Going Crazy!!! LONG

[kristenrice]

My DH just left for his 2 week trip to Montana to hunt for elk.
I have never been apart from him for more than 3-4 days since we met 10 years ago. This separation is already tearing me up...and he just pulled out of the driveway about 20 minutes ago!

The bright spot is that I am leaving for WDW on Saturday! I am actually driving to Detroit on Friday afternoon so that is what I consider the official "start" of my vacation. I am taking my 2 DD's (ages 3 and 5) on their second trip to WDW. I know that they will not deal well being apart from daddy for so long so I am hoping that Disney will help the time speed by.

I have never been so nervous! I love my kids to pieces, but they can really get on my nerves sometimes. They are hitting that whiny, drama queen age. Wait, what age is that exactly? Some of us are still in that phase! Until now, if I start to get frazzled while DH is at work for 12 hours, I can just remember that he'll be home at night and I can have a moment to myself to regroup. Now, I won't have that opportunity for 2 weeks . I am hoping and praying that by spending time at the happiest place on earth will calm my nerves. I can't think of a better way to pass the time than at Disney World.

I rented a reservation at AKV back in March and we just became owners there in September. I guess you can call this my first trip "home". I have a dear friend who has offered to come along to help with the girls. I don't plan on having any "alone" time, but at least the extra set of eyes and hands will be helpful.

Now, I have to figure out what I am forgetting! I have all of our luggage packed and sitting by the front door. We are flying AirTran and I have 2 carry-ons, one checked bag and a stroller and car seat bag that will be gate checked. Each girl has her backpack and I have my "purse". It's actually a guide bag, but it is still smaller than a lot of "purses" I've seen. I sent a package down yesterday. It contains our costumes for MNSSHP, extra shoes, pop, dry food, plates/silverware/cups/bowls, glow sticks, fitted bed sheets, pop-up laundry hamper, laundry detergent/fabric softener and binoculars. I really can't think of anything else that I need to pack. I am going to pack up our Wii and take it to the hotel in Detroit since we will be there for the evening. I was planning on swimming, but our suits probably won't dry before we'll have to pack them up again. I figure that since I booked us a suite, we can just hang out in the room, get a pizza, play some Wii and maybe watch a movie. We'll arrive in Detroit around 5pm Friday and our flight on Saturday isn't until 2pm.

I think today and tomorrow are going to be the worst. DD5 is at school now until 11am. Neither of them have school on Thursday or Friday due to a teachers' convention. Once I pick up DD5 from school today, it's going to be a LONG 36 hours. (That's from when I pick her up until we go to bed on Thursday night) Once Friday hits, I'll be too busy to worry, right? I have to drop off the kids at my parents' house, pick up our dogs (2 Rotties don't fit in the TrailBlazer with 2 car seats! ) and take them to the kennel, pick up the girls, do lunch with the moms from work (a monthly ritual that happened to fall on Friday), stop home and hop online to check in for our flight (and hopefully buy that upgrade!) and then we can finally get on the road!

Whew....this post kind of rambled....but just writing it all down really helped calm my nerves a bit. The Dis really is therapeutic!

 

[brandylouwho]

Good luck! I think you have chosen the best diversion ever--Disney! I hate being away from DH too, especially when I am home alone with our two little girls.

But your situation sounds great--a big trip to keep you all busy and a friend coming along to help out with the kids. You'll have a great time and the time will fly by--I am sure of it. If you do get a little sad or lonely, give yourself a minute or two to feel that way,but then get back to the task at hand--having fun at WDW!

 

[bookwormde]

Relax, if your friend is easy going and flexible definitely bring her along.

bookwormde

 

[TriMom]

I have never been so nervous! I love my kids to pieces, but they can really get on my nerves sometimes.

Of course they do.... they are 3 and 5!! (check my sig)

My suggestion: CANDY - Lots and Lots of CANDY -It works especially well if they don't get it all that often. Wont sit still on the plane - here I will give you 1 jelly bean for every 1 minute you can sit and quietly read your book. 11 pm and you have over tired, over stimulated children - I will be the coolest mom in the world and let you have a piece of candy with breakfast, but you have to go to sleep -RIGHT NOW!!

oh and wine - a glass of wine can always calm someone down. I will let you decide who actually get the wine

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Take a deep breath, you will be fine!!

In August I took DD2 by myself to WDW...4 nights SSR and 1 night WL.....some great moments
However, it was during TS Fay....

So..yes ..some moments where I had to chase her around the WL lobby while waiting for our room..many rain ponchos..lol...
Just plan down time, and always have something to keep them busy..especially at meals.
My advice....take your time at the airport through security, people can wait..or get into another line I was fortuante enough that there was a stranger , willing to pick up her stroller etc...at WDW too...

You will have a great time and time will fly by......

Think of how many women would LOVE to take their kids to WDW...and probably cant

Enjoy yourself!

 

[Brancaneve]

What kept my kids busy on the plane and hotel room were the Color Wonder packs that they sell at Target, Walmart, Toys R Us. The markers only work on the color wonder paper so that you don't have to worry about the airplane seat and hotel room getting destroyed! They have Disney Princess and Dis Fairies coloring books and the blank pages reveal surprise images on the page.

Just remember that your daughters won't forget this trip! When they start to whine, just give them a big smile and turn your back on them and ignore them completely(if it's safe). I would suggest giving them each a bag with fake Disney money and if they start to misbehave, you can have them to pay you a dollar. Reward them by giving them more money which they can use on the trip to purchase toys.

You can also have them write a journal or draw their favorite event of the day and then compile it into a book for dad. They can share it with him when he returns from his trip.

You are staying in AKL which is truly magical. You and your DD will absolutely love it so please savor everyday of your trip! Hug your daughters every five minutes because they will grow up too fast! Enjoy your trip!

 

[kristenrice]

Awwww...you guys.....you make me feel so much better!

I picked up DD5 from school and she was sobbing all the way home. She kept saying, "I want my daddy" in that sad, heartbroken kind of way. I am hoping that she is just tired and that I do not have to hear that every day for the next 2 weeks. It breaks my heart to hear the girls wanting their daddy and knowing that there is nothing I can do to get him here.

As far as the diversions on the plane go....
DD5 has her "journals" that she uses to draw pictures and write her letters in. I also have a portable DVD player, iPod and my laptop so we should be good to go as far as entertainment goes. I am hoping that DD3 will sleep on the flight since it is right around her nap time. I am also hoping to buy the business class upgrade at checkin so that I can have a few "beverages" to help keep me "entertained". I won't have so many that I keep the other passengers entertained!

Thanks for all the reassurance. I am getting so excited! We'll be on the way to Detroit in about 74 hours...but whose counting?

 

[LIFERBABE]

I 2nd the wine!

The great thing about WDW, is that when they crash they are pretty much down for the count. Incorporate naps too.

You'll have a great time and at those ages, they are sooo excited to be there they wear out quickly because they wake up running.

Also, night swims are great. We still do that with the boys and they are 9 and 11. It's relaxing before bed. We'd always have hot cocoa and micropop when we came back in.

You sound really organized, and that will smooth out most of the kinks. Enjoy your trip and YOU CAN DO THIS!!

 

[NoWorriesMate]

The wine is a great idea - but avoid the candy.

we live overseas and spend many many hours on flights. my kids are 5 and 3 so i understand your concerns, but never give a kid sugar before and when they are flying.

I have seen so many parents and kids go crazy when the kids get hyped up on sugar and are stuck in their seat. regular problems include screaming, crying, kicking the seat in front, full on tantrums etc. I always feel so sorry for the kids in these cases and honestly a bit angry at the parents who choose to combine small confined places with sugar.

a find a small gift and the start and the promise of a large gift or bribe at the end works.

also activities such as colouring books, lego or if you have the option a movie played on a portable DVD or lap top.

have a fantastic trip.

 

[Starr W.]

I have an 12 and 7 yr old and we fly regularly out of DTW. One we usually walk to the gate so they burn off some energy. Oldest one brings a few books and I buy a huge sketch pad for the 7 yr old, to use with his special travel markers(they stay in my carry-on and are only for trips). He can draw pretty much the whole flight from DTW to MCO.

I have plenty of gum, snacks(depending on when our flight is, I may buy food for the kids to eat on the plane).

If you are flying Airtran, kids really like the XM sat. radio(they had it last year).

We upgraded to business class(I think our flight it was $20/seat) now my eldest hates sitting in the "skinny" seats in back.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I can totally relate to being afraid to be alone with your kids.

This past July I took DD9 and her BF (boy9) to WDW for 9 days alone in a Studio . So not only was I alone with them, I was unable to go anywhere to get away from them (okay - once I stayed in the laundry room for the entire wash and dry cycle).

It was okay. I think being alone with 2 9 year olds for 9 days was a little too long (especially since one of them wasn't mine). This year DD and I are going alone. We figure if DH and DS14 can go on Boy Scout High Adventure trips, we'll have a little adventure of our own!

 

[dzorn]

I can relate. DH is going on a men's retreat with church after work tonight. When he was packing the car DD woke up (hour early) and ran to the front door screamed at the top of her lungs "Wait Daddy Wait I did not get my hug."

I'm sure the neighbors loved that at 6:30 am. He'll be back Sunday afternoon so I think she'll survive.

Have a great trip,

Denise in MI

 

[LindaBabe]

AKL has a great kids club, too, if you can afford it. You and your friend may both reach a time when you're ready for a break. And, the kids activities there are FAB!

 

[dianeschlicht]

The only flaw I see in your plan is the taking of so many electronics on the flight. Don't forget that EACH of those electronic devices has to be removed from your carry on and placed in a bin to go through the security check. If you forget to take the portable DVD player or any other device out of your carry on, you will be GREATLY delayed while they take you aside and go through all of your carry on bags and do a pat down search. We made that mistake when we took the grandkid's WII to WDW with us. We were smart enough to put it in a checked bag on the way home!