Four men and a Lady...My first Pre-Trip Report

[Tress1975]

I have been reading for awhile about everyone's trip to Disney and I thought I would put my 2 cents in!!!!!!!!

I started planning for my trip to Disney Christmas 2006. Wow that is a long time I know!!!!! I called the Travel Agency close to me to find out the ins and outs of planning a trip. I have no money so I knew the trip had to be on a budget. Donna at Travel Company was WONDERFUL! She told me that I could pay $200 and pay on the trip all year! I wanted to surprise my kids that we were leaving for Disney the day after Christmas 07!!! Donna told me Mickey would even call the house Christmas morning and surprise the kids with the news!!!! I was soooo excited!

I paid the deposit and brought all the books home to find out where we wanted to stay. I could not book the room until Feb. 07 so that would give me time to talk to my DH about the trip. Let me introduce my family to you!!!

Tressie, that's me! I am 32 years old and I have always dreamed of going back to Disney World. The first time I went I won a trip through 4-H for an entire week all expenses paid with the Love of my life, at the time!!!!

DH Robert, he is 37....is a huge grouch and can barely get him to go anywhere with me, the last time on our Honeymoon we went to Hot Springs, AR and went to that little theme park, we paid our money walked in and he saw the lines and walked out!!!

DS, Craig is 8 years old and really has not watched too much TV, so he has no clue who Pluto or anyone is, sad I know

DS, Tyler, 14 years old and has the same passion as I do about Disney! He has wanted to go to Disney since he was 5 years old! He would say Mom everyone has been to Disney except me....

DN, Allen 15, he is my nephew and I invited him to go with us because his family would never take him, also in case I chicken out on the big rides DS will have someone to ride with!!!!!!

The picture from left to right Nephew Allen, Craig son, Tyler son, and Robert Hubby

So that is my family, I love them!!!!

This is me!

Now back to my vacation.......

After much arguing we agreed on Feb. 14, 2008 at Fort Wilderness Cabins. Since my husband is not really into the park thing he could at least relax at the cabin and grill some food while we did the parks!!!!! I called Donna back and informed her what we wanted and I started to pay on the trip that would be a wonderful time!!!!!

Now it is closer to time and in the mail I get a Jury Subpoena for FEBRUARY 12th, oh my that is very close to my trip. What if I get picked and the Judge will not let me out of it???????? I call the Clerk's office and she tells me it is Grand Jury Duty and if I don't have a 'real' good excuse I can't get out of it. I told her about my trip and not good enough, so I call Donna and had my trip postponed until March 13th

I don't want to wait until March 13th! I wanted to be there on Valentines Day!!!! But, it worked out because I found out that a lot of the rides were going to be refurbished during that time, plus it allowed me to save more money for our trip!!!!!!

I love these boards and can use any tips you can give me!!!!!!

Until next time.........

 

[Tress1975]

I am back.... This will be our 15th wedding anniversary!!!! It was 15 in October, so this will be kinda like our "dream" wedding anniversary present to myself!

 

[Tress1975]

I guess no one is reading....oh well, I am so excited my Tickets Are In!!!!!! Well not my tickets but my vouchers. I was so excited I made a notebook, which I will take a picture and post late! Since the trip is coming so soon, I thought I would print out the extra magic hour times and maps. I made dividers to put in my notebook, one for packing list, maps and other cook park info!!!

No one shares my excitment at my home. I am glad I have everyone here, at least I will not bore you with details!!!!!!

 

[disneyfanforlife]

Well i am in. I look forward to reading more on your planning.

 

[stagemomx3]

I'm in. We will be there the same time. Are you starting to pack yet?

 

[Tress1975]

I'm in. We will be there the same time. Are you starting to pack yet?

That is great! Where will you be staying?? I wanted to start packing but I did not want my DH to think I was crazy!!! I am going to take off the day before we go to actually try to get things organized.

I am worried we will not have enough spending money. I really have no idea how much money to take along with me for gas, souvienors, etc.

 

[Tress1975]

I live about 12 hours away. I want to leave a day early and spend the night somewhere in Tallahasse and drive the rest of the way Thursday morning....but grouchy aka DH, will not hear of it! He does not want to spend any more money than he has too. (by the way, I paid on this entire trip all year long by myself with no help from him) I worked the election, babysat, cleaned houses and put my own paycheck back to pay this trip off. Any extra money I made went on it and he wants to gripe about paying 100 bucks for a hotel. I am only going to be in Disney for three short days!!!!! If we drive in at 3:00 p.m. Thursday a half a day is gone and I want to get there by 10:00 to go ahead and visit the parks until or room is ready. Now, I am going to be soooo tired that I am not want to do anything. Can you imagnine getting up at 2:00 a.m. and driving until 1:00 and then going to the parks until late that night???? I don't know about you but I am going to be tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is such a grouch! Maybe I can sit him down and explain things and if I pay for everything, why should he gripe??????? I mean it is not like his little $200 will touch what I paid... truth is he does not even want to go......

I don't care I want to go and so does my kids. I will have to talk to him and see what he says..

Until next time!

 

[stagemomx3]

That is great! Where will you be staying?? I wanted to start packing but I did not want my DH to think I was crazy!!! I am going to take off the day before we go to actually try to get things organized.

We are staying at CSR, and my DH already KNOWS I'm crazy.

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm on board!

 

[OhMari]

I think you need to plan at least $25 per person per day for food. It is good you said you are staying at the cabins at the Wilderness Lodge. You can bring a lot of your own food.

I think you really need to sit down and talk to your dh and tell him how important this trip is to you . You need to tell him, it might not be what he likes, but sometimes in life, you don't always get to do what you like. If he has a bad attitude, it will reflect on everyone else and it is hard to get out of that funk. Sorry I am being honest here, but my dh is the same way. I found out if I talk to him and explain my feelings and what I want to do, things work out better. Try to comprise, maybe you can get him a searacer for a few hours in the afternoon. Take a break from the parks before supper, let him do that and then go back to the parks at night. If you have the small package, you should have a certificate for one hour, if you purchase 30 more minutes.

Good luck, I hope you can talk him into staying a nite while you drive.

 

[Tress1975]

Try to comprise, maybe you can get him a searacer for a few hours in the afternoon. Take a break from the parks before supper, let him do that and then go back to the parks at night. If you have the small package, you should have a certificate for one hour, if you purchase 30 more minutes.

You know that is not a bad idea. If I put in things that he loves which is the water, fishing, outdoors, maybe he will be more to do things I want to do. I am hoping after he gets there the excitement will really get to him and he will enjoy the trip!

I caught him last night looking through my Disney book, which I need to get pics up, last night and thought hmmm maybe he is getting excited but just does not know how to show it!!!!!!!!

I have to do a lot of work today, so maybe this weekend I can add more...

Until next time......

 

[Tress1975]

Hello everyone.....


Well I had an eventful weekend. My DB was moving and his loving sis helped him! Boy I can feel it this morning!!!! After moving him I thought well since I am in the mood why don't I start getting my house ready for when we return from Disney!!!! I moved couches and rearranged, took curtains down and washed them, washed mini blinds, swept, wash walls and this was just in the living room!!!!! Boy, was I tired! But I don't want to come home to a dirty house after spending a couple days at Magic Kingdom!!!!!!

Saturday I thought since I was in town I would go by HD to pick up some LGMH to put on my backpack that I bought.

I decorated it to hang from back pack

I know it looks corny, but I thought it was cute . Now I have to start making plans for my two dogs Max and Missy. I have no idea what I am doing with them!!!!! I am so excited it is getting closer and closer

Until next time......

 

[WDWBetsy]

Great report so far! Can't wait to read more. I'm so excited for you that your trip is getting closer!

 

[BrittBritt]

Too cute! I may need to steal that idea. Love your backpack. I agree about the searaycer/boat. Your DH may think that's fun and give him something to look forward to. Great report!

 

[Tress1975]

Hi everyone well it is 15 days until D-Day!!!! I am in DESPERATE need of a vacation! If it is going wrong you can bet it is going wrong to me! But this year I promised myself I was not going to dwell on the bad, just focus on the good

I promised ya that I would upload pictures of my planning notebook here is the front cover

One section

another

I have looked at it so much, my dh keeps looking at me like I am crazy ha ha. I also made a countdown calendar for my youngest (and me) and he is counting down the days.

Today my youngest had a late President's Day program at school, it was really cute. I need to go to Wally world this weekend and pick up some supplies like batteries, stuff to do in the car, plastic boxes and other items. I hope that I can get everything done, it is coming fast

Well, gotta work
Until next time.......

 

[Tress1975]

TWO WEEKS!!!! Finally it is narrowing down! It is almost like a dream, me going to Disney World. I would have never thought in a MILLION years I would ever get to go! I am so excited

I just talked to my Uncle he is a truck driver and he told me that gas is running like $3.50 a gallon!!! Is that true???? Wow, I am going to have to up my gas allowance then! He also said it took like 14 hours to drive from Louisiana? I don't know my Tom Tom said it would take like 12. There is no way that I am going to be able to drive 14 straight hours. My DH is going to have to get over it!!!!!! We are going to have to split the driving up.

Also, I have reservations to rent a mini van but that is $400.00. I think I am going to cancel that reservation and just take my station wagon! I know I know you think of that stupid movie National Lampoon Vacation or whatever it is...... I just can't spend that kind of money to rent a van. I need every penny I can get because we are on a tight budget!

Do you think since my nephew birthday is tomorrow when we are at Disney World will they let him have a birthday pin????? Just curious.

I can't wait to write my trip report! I know it will be magical

 

[stagemomx3]

There is no way that I am going to be able to drive 14 straight hours. My DH is going to have to get over it!!!!!! We are going to have to split the driving up.

I think you should split the drive up! You will start your vacation off in a much better mood.

Do you think since my nephew birthday is tomorrow when we are at Disney World will they let him have a birthday pin????? Just curious.

Yes, I'm sure they will!

 

[Tress1975]

Only 9 days left!!!!! I thought I would get a cute hairstyle so I cut all my hair off!!!! I got it stacked in the back and I love it. This weekend I think I am going to get some highlights.

 

[WDWBetsy]

Only 9 days left!!!!! I thought I would get a cute hairstyle so I cut all my hair off!!!! I got it stacked in the back and I love it. This weekend I think I am going to get some highlights.

Awesome! You'll have to post a pic of your new cut!

 

[Tress1975]

8 days!!!! Only 8 days!!! I am sooo happy

We are trying to decide if we are going to split the drive up and stay at either panama city beach or destin. I guess it just depends on the money and other things. I looked online and found this lodge called driftwood in panama city beach and until march 14 the rooms are only 60.00. I don't know if I believe that because the pictures they have on the internet are AWESOME! If it really looks like that and we can get a room for 60.00 we are staying! My kids have never seen the beach before. Let me know if anyone has stayed here before.