Going Back w/ an UPDATED family!

Shonte Durrett

Earning My Ears
Joined
Oct 21, 2015
Messages
73
Getting to know the MY story: :welcome:

I grew up Disney. Born the year of '77 in California and summers were spent getting great use of our annual passes to Disneyland, for the first 4 years of my life. Then we moved to Oklahoma! :earseek: Where then only our yearly vacations to California for a week or two did we visit Disneyland. Years and years go by and we just stopped going. :confused3 I grew older, getting through high school, and then my sister had kids, and all of a sudden "YIPPY!" DISNEYLAND 1999!! That was the last year going until I would later find my new "permanent" vacation destination - WDW.

I got married. Spent 15 years with him. During those 15 years I hadn't noticed how mildly controlling and manipulative he was.:crowded: We went to Disney World for the first time in 2006 - Sept. FREE DINING:cheer2:!. Our two daughters were 6 and 4 years old. We loved the vacation, however.... my ex would say to the girls "don't touch that, don't do this, don't do that!":sad2: they couldn't have had a relaxing time. None the less it was Disney World and AMAZING! As soon as we returned I was back to planning the next one. 2007 - Sept. again. Okay time but I didn't feel that great (found out I had Crohn's & Osteoarthritis):crazy2: Still it's WDW and AMAZING! ... Planned next trip again for 2008 MNSSHP & FREE DINING- He was sick and was having a hard time walking - I had torn cartridges in my knees and needing to have surgery so oh, the pain. Next year goes by and I begin really really missing WDW. 2010 rolls around and my parents decide they are going to go with us. Everyone was grumpy. It was hot. Summer time since kids were older and couldn't miss school for a week. Hot, tiring, gross, EVERYONE was cranky >:( and not to mention the distance between my then husband and I was over the top. HOWEVER, it was Disney and AMAZING!

Few months later..... Divorce... Stress, tension, fights... (my poor Disney baby girls):oops:

Few months after that.... Met up with an old classmate.:chat: Knew him since 5th grade. He had a daughter 1 year younger than my then youngest. Well.... shortly later...:love:..MARRIED! BAM - BABY :cutie: yes, another GIRL!

We are now a crazy little "blended" (DH hates that word, as do I but what else to say? lol) :cloud9: A strong family with LOTS of personality. This family is crazy so watch out WDW, we are coming soon!!

5 years after the 2 oldest and I last visited WDW and we are more excited than ever! I only use essential oils now FOR EVERYTHING(as my kids say - lol) My health is better than ever! I feel great! My kids are older, my husband never went to Disney World and only Disneyland once when he was tiny tiny. My step-daughter went to Disneyland last year with her mother during summer break. Then there is my little bundle of toddler mayhem that I CANNOT WAIT TO TAKE HER to WDW!!!!

My husband is FUN; (hates crowds though) but is the most outgoing, bright personality, and.... is a smoker (doesn't around kids or anyone. has to run off away from everyone every so often to smoke) lol... Man, I hope there are a lot of smoking areas not far from where we are at in the parks. Poor hubs! Took him to Frontier City here in Oklahoma and it was the best time in a theme park. The way he is with ALL the kids is awesome! I can only imagine how WDW will be!

so with all that story-line intro... we bring........


:PinkbouncPLANNING OUR TRIP * PTR * May 2016 (hopefully):Pinkbounc



NEED TO DO FINANCIALLY: Saving money! My thoughts are to sell all the stuff we DON'T use, don't need, and have hoarded for years! I have home businesses that I need to step up a notch and earn money. Stop buying useless junk we don't need. beans and rice for the next few months.:stir: That's all I have so far. LOL


PLANS IN THE WORKS: Looking into our options... Renting a RV and driving 1300 miles and staying at the campgrounds, flying and staying at Caribbean Beach Resort (cheapest as of now for our large family), or renting DVC points, flying, and staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We DO NOT have money and never will so why not get the money to vacation? lol.... or I even thought of flying and having a RV waiting for us at the campgrounds.

WE NEED IT! I have teenage daughters, if we don't go.... there will be disaster in my house! :sad:We need out!!! lol

WHAT OUR WISHES ARE: :smickey:

DH - doesn't want to drive, 2 of 3 oldest DD want to drive, I don't care either way. I want cheapest but I want my kids to be cozy!:car:

DD15 Wants Caribbean Beach Resort DD13 Wants Art of Animation, others don't care. I want cheapest!

DD2 Wants to see Disney Junior characters ("them like me" - she says) lol

DD13 & DD12 Want to go to Water Park. DD15 doesn't want to go. DH and I don't care. Wanting cheap this round so may skip it.

DD15 & DD13 want Cinderella's Royal Tableprincess:, DD12 and I want Mickey's Backyard BBQ::MickeyMo. DH doesn't care.

DH & DD2 will want naps :angel: (I may too). DD15, DD13, & DD12 Want to swim :beach: during naps or play in arcade. I think the sun & water will zap their energy to go back to the park after baby's nap.

Must haves: at LEAST 5N/6D w/Base Ticket (wondering on days if we need hopper or not, at least want 5 days in parks) DDP, Memory Maker :hug:, Magic Express if we fly in, and needs to be in May 2016 or later during fall break/Christmas break. Kids are in color guard and band contests and practice run almost everyday during Summer vacation! The girls are too old to miss a week at a time. Then band football games on Friday and contests every Saturday.... There is no other time than the week after school gets out. Plus, I work at the school too sooooo... I have to work the days before school starts and the few days after. Plus I don't want scalding hot again like in 2010!


These are the things I have set so far for this Planning Report! Until then :wave: TTFN.
 
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We're staying at a value resort, the all star music, in a family suite. Two rooms, two bathrooms, and a little kitchenette with a microwave, fridge, and coffee maker that sleeps six. It gets good reviews and isn't breaking the bank.
Good luck with the planning and hope you have a magical vacation!
 
We're staying at a value resort, the all star music, in a family suite. Two rooms, two bathrooms, and a little kitchenette with a microwave, fridge, and coffee maker that sleeps six. It gets good reviews and isn't breaking the bank.
Good luck with the planning and hope you have a magical vacation!



Thank you! I just checked back earlier today and saw that the ASM was now an option for me! yay!
 
Good for you for getting out of a bad situation!

Your story sounds a lot like mine. Took my kids with my ex husband to Disney from 2006 until around 2009-2010 when the kids told me it was the last time they wanted their dad to go. No one could have fun around him and it was like walking on eggshells. So we started doing trips without him. Divorce soon followed after 17 years of marriage. Best, and easiest decision EVER. Kids and I have never been happier! And unbeknownst to me, my Prince Charming was right under my nose, and made our family complete.
 

4 girls? WOW. I hope you guys have a great time! I'm also going in May, so following along!

If your girls really like animals, I would definitely look into AKL. Nothing beats waking up in the morning and seeing Animals outside!
 
Good for you for getting out of a bad situation!

Your story sounds a lot like mine. Took my kids with my ex husband to Disney from 2006 until around 2009-2010 when the kids told me it was the last time they wanted their dad to go. No one could have fun around him and it was like walking on eggshells. So we started doing trips without him. Divorce soon followed after 17 years of marriage. Best, and easiest decision EVER. Kids and I have never been happier! And unbeknownst to me, my Prince Charming was right under my nose, and made our family complete.



Oh wow! It is the same story! Such a small magical world!
 












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