I have a plan.. Will you tell me what you think? (Sorry - kind of long..)

[Laura]

Originally posted by JayCT
Definitely take the trip. If you don't, you will always regret it. You sound like a very responsible person who only spends what she has to. Taking a little of your hard earned money for the trip will be the best money you ever spent. The memories will be priceless. As you know by these boards there are a lot of ways to save money, so the trip doesn't have to cost you a lot. Best wishes and keep us informed.

Very well said!

 

[Costumesaremylife]

Do it for yourself, and do it for your granddaughter. My dad isn't in the best of health physically and mentally he's not the same as he used to be. Most of my childhood he worked very hard and even though my mom took us to see him at work it wasn't the same as him just being with us. When we would go to disney it was different. No work, no illnesses (My childhood recurring pneumonia) no money problems, just perfect. I am so grateful for all the wonderful memories I have of those trips. And when the days seem full of sickness or sadness you can just start talking about your disney trip.

 

[Serena]

C. Ann, here I go again. What would you say to me if I were in your shoes?




And just in case, I not only think you deserve this trip, I think you need it.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay....I think you all convinced me.. I also just got off the phone with my sister (who lost her DH so suddenly and unexpectedly in February) and she said pretty much the same thing that all of you have said.. None of us know how much time we have left - nor what our health is going to be a year, 2 years or 5 years from now - so - I'm going to plan the trip!!

Of course I'm still going to be a cheapskate about it - and try to find all of the best possible deals - but I can't be expected to change my mind set entirely - right? LOL

I guess I just needed to hear someone tell me that I wasn't being irresponsible by using some of that money for a "fun" activity.. I'm so used to putting anything that "I" want at the very bottom of my list of priorities, I wasn't sure this was the right thing to do..

Oh - and if someone criticizes me for it somewhere along the line - I'm just gonna tell them that 55,000+ DISer's made me do it!!!!!!!!

Let the planning begin!!!!

 

[Serena]

Oh yes, we made you do it and if someone actually has the gall to criticize, you send them here. I want to talk with them.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Serena
Oh yes, we made you do it and if someone actually has the gall to criticize, you send them here. I want to talk with them.

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Okay - I'm gonna print out this entire thread.. LOL

 

[DMRick]

hehehe...and you expected other answers from this board lol?

I do think I would start, however, in making sure your DD can get time off from work, and that she'll be able to take time off from school. Get all that stuff cleared up right from the get go..you don't need another disappointment! At least your DH will be at the same house with your SIL, so that will be easier.

We only live once in this world, and it's important that we live it to the fullest! If this is important to you, then you need to just do it.

Now...let the planing begin!

 

[clutter]

Go. Go, go, go.


You know, I've been accused of squeezing pennies out of rocks; I'm rather thrifty myself. Why? Because WDW is SUCH a special place for my dd and me. Six is such a fantabulous age to go there. Before Christmas is my favorite time to go there. Who in this world deserves this special trip? After this past year, it's you, your daughter and your grand-daughter. And let me give you a hint... don't go too cheap. Splurge on all of you, you'll appreciate it. (But get a code! . )


Go. Go, go, go!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by DMRick
If this is important to you, then you need to just do it.

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I can't even begin to tell you how important it is.. It's been nagging at me endlessly since that horrible 9/11 trip, but I can't find the right words to describe it to anyone.. It's like I have to do this, but I can't explain why.. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I have this notion that if we go back and do the trip over again, it will somehow wipe out all of the fear and helplessness that I felt when we were there before.. Obviously that was my first experience with having our country so brutally attacked - and initially we didn't even know what was going on, who was attacking us, why they were attacking us, or even if the whole country was going to be under siege.. Being so far from home and the rest of my family, I was terrified beyond belief and maybe I've just never gotten over that..

Disney is supposed to be a "happy" place and that's what I need to come away from there with.. So, I'm going to try this once again and hopefully it will put this odd, nagging feeling to rest once and for all!!

 

[HaleyB]

One last vote for GO!!!

Sometimes the things that seem "frivilous" are really the most important of all.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I'm new around here but I'm the kinda person that just jumps right in...... thought this might help.


When I 6 almost 7 my parents went on a cruise and left my sister and I with my grandparents for a week. I've always lived about 6 or so hours from them and this was the longest time we had spent together. They tried so hard to entertain us for the week......we went to the zoo, six flag fun resturants. I'm 33 now and I still cherrish that week with them not because of where we were but that for a week our lives stopped and we spent it together.

The only thing and I mean ONLY thing that could have topped it would have been to go to disney with them but sadly that never happened and now my grandaddy is gone and my mama is 87 and could not make the trip.

So from your DGD pt of view.......GO!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by WhenUwishUponAstar
I'm new around here but I'm the kinda person that just jumps right in...... thought this might help.

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First of all, Welcome!!

And second of all, thank you for taking the time to share your story with me.. One of the most important things in life for me is to leave this earth knowing that I left my granddaughter with good memories of her Grandma.. I know that good memories don't necessarily have to mean spending tons of money - we've already made some awesome ones - but she'll often say to me, "Grandma, let's talk about Disney.. Which part did you like best?" (And believe me - although she wasn't quite 3 when we went, she remembers all of it!) Or - sometimes she'll say, "I wish it was the year I turned three again.." - and when I ask her why she'll say - "Because that's the year we went to Disney!" So I do think this trip is important for many reasons.. I don't know what the future holds for me next year or the year after or the year after that - so...............I'm going to go with the popular opinion here and go ahead and plan the trip.. I think it will be good for her - good for my DD (who works too hard and doesn't get to spend as much time with me as she would like) - and it will definitely be good for ME - to have something to look forward to..

Thanks for all of the encouragement!!

 

[wdwnutze]

Definately go!!!! You have earned this trip. I have gone to WDW several times with my mom and my DD's and they have wonderful memories of time spent with their Nana. This will be a wonderful gift of memories for your granddaughter, daughter and yourself. Life is too short to put things off.

 

[Lars624]

CAnn~I think that the trip would be a wonderful thing for you, your DD & especially for your granddaughter. Even though it will cost you some money I personally think it's well worth it because what you'll be getting out of it is priceless......special time with your DD & DGD, and just getting to see the look on your DGD's face at WDW would be a bargain at any price. A trip like this will stay in her mind forever & the wonderful memories will stay with you & your DD too.

 

[GailT]

I say go no matter where it is, Life is way to short, if the money is there go, if it isn't do as I do, CHARGE IT!

 

[SeaSpray]

Just to add my own 2 cents:

GO! Some of the most special memories I have of my mother is when she took me to Disney World when I was a teen. My mother didn't drive (she was a NYC gal living in suburban NJ) so she and I had never done anything "by ourselves" before (I'm the youngest of 5 kids). You already know how special of a place Disney World is... You will be making *very* special memories for yourself, your DD and granddaughter

P.S. Don't forget to take lots of pictures!!!

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by C.Ann
my DH has said repeatedly that he wants us to make this trip in December..

There's your answer.

 

[ScarlettO]

I just wanted to add that the memories of that trip with your daughter will be precious also. I was able to go to WDW with my Mom a few years ago when she was a spry 70 year old. It is the only vacation we took as adults and we had a wonderful time. Now she is a semi-invalid and her travel days are probably over. I am soooo glad we made that trip.

 

[WDWLVR]

Some of my fondest memories of my mom are the times we spent at Disney World together as adults. Go, enjoy, plus what a wonderful gift to give your Granddaughter.

Lifes too short not to enjoy it. May you have a wonderful time!

 

[C.Ann]

So basically, what all of you are saying, is that I shouldn't go - right? LOL

Okay - I get it - I get it! I definitely should go - make the memories - and let the chips fall where they may..

Sounds like a plan to me!!!