Followed the plans on here and no Elsa FP

[Disneyliscious]

After reading all of the posts (and I read them ALL- even the deleted ones) I definetly have a much better outlook on things.

OP, I wanted to share this with you in case it helps in any way.

Many (MANY) moons ago I was in my early 20's. I was married, had a family. Husband was in the Army and I was a stay at home mom. We really didn't have any money and lived paycheck to paycheck.

I wanted to take my nephew to Disney World. He was 6 at the time. My own son was 18 months so I left him with my parents. We drove down to save money on flights. Rented a cheap motel in Daytona Beach for $160 for the week. All those vacation homes and condo's near Disney weren't around back then. We drove from Daytona to DW (about 45 mins one way) and I carried a small duffle type bag with food for the day, including canned drinks. It was HEAVY and my shoulders hurt, but we were honest to God flat broke and couldn't eat that day otherwise. I was so thankful after we ate because the bag was so much lighter. Not gonna lie, at times that day I questioned myself. Asked myself why I put myself through the pain of carrying that heavy bag around (canned drinks are heavy when you have several). I stressed about money and had to tell my nephew no when he wanted a souvenir, then felt bad about it. My goal was to let him experience the magic of Disney, even without the frills but then I'd tell myself...maybe he's not enjoying the trip because I couldn't buy him this or we couldn't do that.

Fast forward to the current. My nephew is now 27 and has a 6 year old son of his own. To this day he still talks about his trip to Disney World and how he wants to take his own children. Its the only vacation my nephew has ever taken and he has very fond memories of it. He doesn't remember the souvenir he didn't get. But he does remember Mickey Mouse, the rides, playing on Daytona Beach, and eating on the Sunglow Pier over the ocean. After all these years I've finally realized, he did experience the magic.

Keep in mind, as you are on your vacation, that its not always about the "here and now". Sometimes, things don't fall into place until years later. Try not to stress it and just enjoy making memories. Because one day that little girl will be all grown up with kids of her own. And even if she doesn't remember all of it, its at that point in her life she will realize and be thankful for what her mom and dad struggled to go through in order to try and make her wishes come true. It will be at that point where Anna and Elsa no longer matter to her, rather, she will cherish the memories she made with her mom and dad.

If she has never been to the ocean, I highly recommend making the 45 minute drive to Daytona for a day at the beach. Its free and you can make sandwiches for lunch. But no matter what you decide to do, think of the long term effects of what you are doing and know that someday, her missing A&E really wont matter.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

nd even if she doesn't remember all of it, its at that point in her life she will realize and be thankful for what her mom and dad struggled to go through in order to try and make her wishes come true. It will be at that point where Anna and Elsa no longer matter to her, rather, she will cherish the memories she made with her mom and dad.

Hopefully she's not like me. 20 years later I know I'd still be giving my parents hell for not taking me to meet Anna & Elsa.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hopefully she's not like me. 20 years later I know I'd still be giving my parents hell for not taking me to meet Anna & Elsa.

LOL! My oldest was 12 when we took the family to WDW. It was just teh MK and FW in Epcot back then. Oh my! Buddy and I saved and saved! I was a single Mom, my first husband had died when the baby was 9 months old, and the older two were 2 and 4. Anyway, Buddy and I had not yet maried, but he was insistant we take them whyle they were litte, so off we went.

This was a 10 day trip and it included flying! A first for my crew! Daytona Beach and area attractions for Christmas and Disney for New Years. It was busy! I came home needing a vacation from my vacation, and learned a few lessons about my family and how we roll. But I never expected my 40 YO son to tell me the reason he has never taken family vacations to WDW with us now is because we rushed him away form th edancing lights in Epcot! Really???? You are just telling me this now?????? LOL! Now I do believe he has resented me sonce then....but I think he also is trying to make sure his wife...who it turns out wants to family vaca with us in Disney.....is not mad at him!

 

[Nancyg56]

I tend to agee with some of the posters who believe that there are times when a family cannot afford to NOT take a vacation.

Last October I had a chance to join some very dear friends who I met on the DIS. My DH had had a rough yea with multiple medical issues, and was out of wok on Disability. That happened after we planned for me to have this much needed get away trip. You see, my DH work is seasonal, and hae had just gone back to wok after layoff when he was injured. He had not been back 3 weeks, and this was the first time in over 40 yeas of doing this job that he every was out during that thime when he made the money to last the year.

I offered to cancel the trip, but he insisted I not only go, but that I take my neighbor so I would not be alone with a group of couples. I was so concerned about the money, this was one expensive trip! He felt strongly that no one needed to get away from home more than me. You see, while he was recovering, I was working and was in school full time, and still caring for him. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, way more than I even realized myself.

I went, and I spent the money we saved for me and my neighbor, and I came home much healthier than I had left. Buddy was right, this was onr th=ime that we could not afford for me to NOT go.

 

[vinotinto]

An A&E is showing for Oct 10.

 

[CooperPrincesses]

We love Chip and Dale's Campfire sing along, and you can bring your own food for s'mores. Lots and lots of fun, plus an outdoor movie too.

 

[lustergirl]

And that's fine, but going on vacation and pinching pennies is not fun to ME. It's stressful. I just think at this point eating a $1500 loss, probably less if renting points, is better than ballooning that loss to $3000 or $4500.

And the suggestion another poster made about not paying their bills in order to cover the trip costs is ludicrous to me.

I agree. Not paying your bills and going to Disney is irresponsible.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I agree. Not paying your bills and going to Disney is irresponsible.

Actually people were saying she wasn't legally responsible to pay someone else's bills. That's totally different than not paying your own bills.

 

[lustergirl]

The bills are her grandmother's bills not the OPs and the OP is not legally bound to pay any of them. That she is willing to do so is admirable, especially given her own financial situation.

Exactly. Her own financial situation is warrant to stay at home. It sounds like she can't afford to go because of all the stuff that is going on. Okay "sure my house was just robbed and I have alot of other stuff going on" "But let's take this trip to disney" NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lustergirl]

Actually people were saying she wasn't legally responsible to pay someone else's bills. That's totally different than not paying your own bills.

Well maybe their are not her own bills but remember her house was robbed? She has to be suffering from that.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I agree. Not paying your bills and going to Disney is irresponsible.

The OP didn't indicate not being able to pay her own bills, and no one suggested that she not pay her own bills.

 

[lustergirl]

The OP didn't indicate not being able to pay her own bills, and no one suggested that she not pay her own bills.

Guess I will play the devil's advocate here.

Post from the OP:
I wasn't looking for sympathy or even a place to complain. I was just really frustrated with my circumstances and looking for a way to make them better. When we planned this trip we rented AKL DVC (paid and can't get money back), bought Halloween tickets (paid and can't cancel). We had saved up for our first vacation ever and were pumped- had a whole week planned and were so looking forward to it. Meanwhile, my husband suffered financial loss at work (unfortunately like many today), we also had to come up with a lump sum of money to help family, and my grandmother who raised me- is sick and there are bills I must pay. On top of all that, Our house was broken into and it was destroyed and everything was stolen. They even took our shower head and toilet seats...no really. We are currently fixing it all and putting it on the market to sell. This costs extreme money too. I realize these are no ones problems but our own, but we don't have much money at this point, even though we did when we reserved our trip.

I can't believe for one moment that someone with all the troubles listed above would even consider still taking this trip. Gee I don't know, I am also having a hard time believing this thread is real.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't think implying someone is lying, or just fabricating the thread entirely, is being a devil's advocate as much as it is just rude.

 

[lustergirl]

I don't think implying someone is lying, or just fabricating the thread entirely, is being a devil's advocate as much as it is just rude.

Not rude, just sensible. You have been around her for quite some time as I. Posts like these come and go. We will see how this turns out.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Not rude, just sensible. You have been around her for quite some time as I. Posts like these come and go. We will see how this turns out.

I have been around here for quite some time, and there is nothing about this OP, or her follow up posts, that makes me believe she is lying or a troll. YMMV.

 

[lustergirl]

So, ruin Grandma's credit and put her in a more precarious financial situation, so that she can pay for more at WDW? This is your suggestion? Is Grandma going to be able to eat while she's gone? Maybe she could leave her a couple of cans of cat food, and leave the window cracked.

Its not just Grandma's bills either, is it? Her husband lost his job, and their house got robbed, did I get those details correct? From an outsider's prospective, it sounds like they have bills that need paying, more than they need to spend more money at WDW. That is why I suggested that it may be better to scrap a trip, and take the loss, when it is no longer practical to take it, financially. A $1000 loss is better than $2000 you can't afford to spend.

Gee someone that actually makes sense in this thread

 

[bc7ate9]

Gee someone that actually makes sense in this thread

Agreed. Also, I don't think it's rude to be skeptical. You're putting your business on the internet - people are going to think what they think... (and, for the record, I've also thought this thread seemed fishy.)

 

[lustergirl]

I don't remember the OP asking anyone's opinion on whether they should take the trip....
Financially it may be difficult, it may (or may not) be the "best" thing to do but it sure sounds like OP and her family need a break both literally and figuratively.
She came here to have a wee vent that at 60 days she couldn't get the one FP she wanted (And yes it didn't come across "well" to some) and what does she get people a) making her feel bad for taking a trip they don't think she should take and b) making her feel bad about her trip because hey can't afford for it to be fun enough in posters eyes.
OP if you are still reading this thread despite the negativity, you will have a lovely time, you will decompress ready to tackle the issues when you get home, your family will make lovely memories both in and out of the park.
There is loads to do for little or no money.
What dates are you there?

We all need "breaks" in life but to ruin my credit or someone elses to take a trip to disney: not happening!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[magicmomms]

Not fishy not fake. Looking for tips. Thanks for the tips. Im paying my bills. Not sure why all the concern for that. Things are tight for us all. If u find my circumstances or situation fake or a waste of your time, you dont have to reply.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We all need "breaks" in life but to ruin my credit or someone elses to take a trip to disney: not happening!!!!!!!!!!!

The Op never indicated she was going to do either.