I traded my stroller for a wheelchair...A mom & daughter trip to WDW

[MeMom]

Best of everything in your work pursuits. Easing into it slowly sounds like an excellent idea, not only for you, but for the family getting used to you working as well.

 

[ptcrn]

Hi there, I am jumping in for your trip report! I love that you are doing a mother-daughter trip, what a great present for your mom! And I agree, you all look so much alike. Your boys are adorable too in their Mickey ears! It must have been so hard to leave them.

Your TR caught my eye because my best friend from college lives in Plymouth too! And she also has three boys! I wonder if your boys do any activities with hers? And my mom grew up in Manomet! So I have spent quite a bit of time in your town- it is a great place. Such a small world!

Sounds like a great trip so far, I can't wait to read more!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Kristen... lots of luck to you. Hopefully you can work PT!

I love working PT. I work 2 days a week and it is nice to get out of the house but you are still home enough to do the never ending !

Boy... I am not sure who looks like your mom the most. Definately no way of hiding that you are all family

Best of everything in your work pursuits. Easing into it slowly sounds like an excellent idea, not only for you, but for the family getting used to you working as well.

Hi guys!
The interview went great!!!! They basically just told me to call when I'm ready to sign up and they will order my business cards! WOW! I didn't know how fast it would happen! I'm excited, nervous, having Mommy guilt (does that ever end?!!) but it seems like they will take whatever hours I can give them (basically weekends right now) and I can start at my own speed. Todd and I had a long talk and I think I may be ordering my business cards, soon! And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, no harm in trying, right? Thanks for your encouragement and words!! I'll keep you posted on things!

On another note, hoping to finish day 1 today(finally, right?!)...it's a rainy, icky, day here in MA, so hoping to find some down time tonight. Stay tuned!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi there, I am jumping in for your trip report! I love that you are doing a mother-daughter trip, what a great present for your mom! And I agree, you all look so much alike. Your boys are adorable too in their Mickey ears! It must have been so hard to leave them.

Your TR caught my eye because my best friend from college lives in Plymouth too! And she also has three boys! I wonder if your boys do any activities with hers? And my mom grew up in Manomet! So I have spent quite a bit of time in your town- it is a great place. Such a small world!

Sounds like a great trip so far, I can't wait to read more!

Hi!!! Welcome aboard!!!
WOW...small world is right!!!! Are your friends boys about my kids ages? I live in West Plymouth, so it's quite possible, I'm involved in a lot here. You will need to PM me her name and everything!! How funny is that?! And wow your Mom is from Manomet!!! It's a great town...love it here!! We're so lucky to live in such a wonderful area!!!

Thanks for coming for the ride!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Congrats on your interview/offer Kristen! I hope it works out for you!

 

[JenAusty]

I love your pics from World of Disney.. especially the Peter Pan one. When I seen the pic of your mom next to the princesses, it looks a lot like you. I think that you look more like your mom then your sister. I think your sister and you do look alike, and I think you look younger of the two of you. But all three of you look a like.

Thats cute that your mom cried because of how happy she was. I hate doing that cause I'm thinking "why am I crying? I'm super happy" hehe But that just shows how great your trip was going already.

I like how you guys got to relax and unwind when you arrived and didn't rush to do things. Even though, I know how hard it must of been. Your drinks look yummy especially the pink one.

I look forward to hearing about The Wave. I haven't heard much about this place.

 

[JenAusty]

Ohh- also Good Luck with your interviews and deciding on your new employment. I always felt like Real Estate would be fun and rewarding. Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

All caught up! Hurrah for getting the room you wanted at Pop! Can't believe what happened with your poor sis' rental car! That is NOT the way to start vacation!

SO pleased to see you checked out my favorite drink spot at Downtown Disney. Those suckers are strong but oh so good. And the view can't be beat either!

Everyone is finally together! Happy day! As everyone else has said, you all look so much alike! I also love your sister's Dharma Initiative shirt!

Can't wait to hear what happens next. I'm hoping you loved The Wave. I'd like to try it there sometime!

Oh and congratulations on the interview with the local office. That's fantastic!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Congrats on your interview/offer Kristen! I hope it works out for you!

Thank you!! Me too, it's a BIG decision, you know? I've been home 7 years and still will be, it will just eat into our weekend time, but this office seems VERY flexible and seems like I can do as much or as little as I would want, so it seems like the perfect fit for us!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I love your pics from World of Disney.. especially the Peter Pan one. When I seen the pic of your mom next to the princesses, it looks a lot like you. I think that you look more like your mom then your sister. I think your sister and you do look alike, and I think you look younger of the two of you. But all three of you look a like.

Thats cute that your mom cried because of how happy she was. I hate doing that cause I'm thinking "why am I crying? I'm super happy" hehe But that just shows how great your trip was going already.

I like how you guys got to relax and unwind when you arrived and didn't rush to do things. Even though, I know how hard it must of been. Your drinks look yummy especially the pink one.

I look forward to hearing about The Wave. I haven't heard much about this place.

I've heard that a lot, that I look younger yay: lol!!) and more like Mom than Jodi. When we were in high school everyone thought she was older than me....I hated it then, but I'll take it now!!

I know, I'm super emotional, too! I cry whenever I'm overly happy! It's crazy...my poor babies!! LOL!!

Wave is coming up!!!

Ohh- also Good Luck with your interviews and deciding on your new employment. I always felt like Real Estate would be fun and rewarding. Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for.

Thanks Jen, I really appreciate that. It seems like this office is going to be a great fit for me. I'm so excited and so nervous, too. I'm so lucky and blessed to have been given the opportunity to be home with my babies for 7 years, and will still be, during the week but feel like it would be good for me to have something more, too. I will start SLOW and build a foundation so when Coley goes to school in a couple of years, I"ll be able to work more then. That's my plan...we'll see.

 

[princess&her4princes]

All caught up! Hurrah for getting the room you wanted at Pop! Can't believe what happened with your poor sis' rental car! That is NOT the way to start vacation!

SO pleased to see you checked out my favorite drink spot at Downtown Disney. Those suckers are strong but oh so good. And the view can't be beat either!

Everyone is finally together! Happy day! As everyone else has said, you all look so much alike! I also love your sister's Dharma Initiative shirt!

Can't wait to hear what happens next. I'm hoping you loved The Wave. I'd like to try it there sometime!

Oh and congratulations on the interview with the local office. That's fantastic!!

Hi C!
I'm moving very slowly, so glad you caught up!!!

That drink booth in DTD was the best, it was a nice way to pass the time waiting for Jodi, the weather was perfect, the company was good and my drink was strong! What else can you ask for, right?

Updating coming right up!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I'm here! Loving your adults only trip. I try to get away with my mom and 2 sisters every other year or so. In 2008 we went to Key West. Unfortunately I am the only one with the disney bug!

Can't wait to read more and hear about The Wave. I'm staying at the CR with my daughters in January!

And yes, you and your sister look alike!

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl!
Thanks for joining us!!! Good for you for planning an all girls trip every other year, what a great idea! Will you try and do a trip with them to Disney or will they not have it? And yay for your daughter/Mom trip in January! How fun! Are you doing at PTR? Have you ever done a trip like that with your daughters before?

Wave update coming up!

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hi Kristen!
I just got over here. I've been MIA on the DIS for a bit. I am now getting back into the swing of things.

I'm glad to see you've started your TR! It's going great so far. Poor Jodi though. There is nothing worse than starting your vacation on a bad note. I'm guessing things will improve for her!

The phone call from Mickey for your mom was so sweet! She looks so happy!
The drinks looked wonderful. Wish I had one right now.

I am very interested to see what you thought of the Wave.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Okay, I left off with us all prettied up and ready for our 5:50p ressie at The Wave. We went out to the bus stop and the bus for MK came right away, just our luck! We jump on and make our way to MK, figuring we'd catch the monorail, just for fun and head to the Contemporary but decide once we get to the bus station, we'd just walk, since there is a lovely path leading over to the Contemporary. Well, let's just back up to earlier in the day, I've mentioned before (in my PTR) that Mom has a bad back and ankle, well, we've been on our feet all day long, she decided to wear pretty heeled sandals to travel with and at this point, she is hurting but doesn't say anything. We find our way to The Wave and I begin my picture taking!!

Mom & Jodi outside of The Wave

The hallway leading it, pretty cool, huh?

We go in, give our name and are told to have a seat in their waiting room, didn't get a picture of that, it was SUPER dark but very cool. Jodi offered to take a pic of Mom and I....

In about 10 minutes, we were called for our table. We had the BEST waitress, she was very attentive and super sweet. We all had a glass of water and decided on dinner. Mom and Jodi went with the lamb special and I had a steak, they were all DELISH! I'm sorry that I don't have pics of this meal, still getting my Disney picture taking groove on and was too busy catching up with Mom & Jodi. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, the atmosphere is great, the service was so Disney like and the food was sooo yummy!!

After dinner we decided to take a quick spin over to MK just because we could! We jumped on the monorail and took our time, met some more people from Boston and had a chat while riding. Mom then tells us that her feet are killing her from her sandals and hopes one of us has bandaids back at the room. Lucky for her I did pack them plus some of the blister pads that were recommended on DIS. She says she will be fine for the night as we make our way down the ramp and finally through the turnstiles of MK!!

We have no plan of attack once through the turnstiles, it's about 8 pm at this point, we make our way down Main Street and take it all in...the castle, the people, the smells, the magic.....I was SO HAPPY to finally be there!

We decide that we have no choice but to ride IASW, for those of you just joining in, this was our tradition growing up, Mom would INSIST that we start our vacation with IASW, I've since instilled this in my children and didn't expect anything less for this trip. I didn't take out my camera for the rest of the night, sorry, we did get some pics from photopass, but haven't received this as of yet. I will post them once I get them, hope that's okay.
We enjoyed our ride through IASW, I couldn't help but think of my boys at that moment, how happy I was to have this special trip with just my Mom & sister, and got teary eyed for just the moment.

Afterwards, we made our way over to HM and had no line at all to wait in, we walked through the entire line and got to the door immediately. We somehow all crammed into one car but had fun and a lot of laughs through it...we weren't sure how the ghost at the end would fit in between the three of us, but he did!!

At this point, we were getting very tired, it had been a long day, we started heading out and I saw that another show for Mickey's Philarmagic was starting soon, I convinced Mom & Jodi we should go in and see it...it's air conditioned and we get to sit...they were game. We went in, had a 5 minute wait but got to do Disney Trivia while we waited, which was fun and made our way into the show. Mom & Jodi had never seen it and really enjoyed it, it 's one of my favs. Gotta love Donald!!

And last but not least, we took a quick ride on Pooh on the way out. It was fun and nice not to have to wait in line, so we took advantage of it. Afterwards, we decided it was time to head out, if my memory serves me correctly, there was Wishes that night, we were SO tired, we weren't sticking around, we decided it was best to sneak out beforehand so we didn't have to wait too long for the bus. It worked out perfectly! We headed back to Pop and called it a day! And what a day it was!!!

Up next, our 1st full day..Epcot! Stay tuned!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi Kristen!
I just got over here. I've been MIA on the DIS for a bit. I am now getting back into the swing of things.

I'm glad to see you've started your TR! It's going great so far. Poor Jodi though. There is nothing worse than starting your vacation on a bad note. I'm guessing things will improve for her!

The phone call from Mickey for your mom was so sweet! She looks so happy!
The drinks looked wonderful. Wish I had one right now.

I am very interested to see what you thought of the Wave.

Hi Kristel!
Welcome back!!! I hope you're well and thanks for joining me!!!! I've been moving slowly, you know how it is, but so happy to get to relive it all with you guys!

Jodi did just fine once she got there! And thankfully it all worked out at home, too for her DH without a car!

I'm with you...could use one of those drinks myself right about now!!!

Thanks for sticking with me!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sorry about your mom's feet. Good thing she is traveling with an always prepared DIS'er. Although I can't help but think that perhaps your TR title foreshadows how her back and ankle fare on the rest of the trip?

Sounds like you had a great night. I definitely want to try the Wave someday. That's a nice little walk over to the Contemporary, isn't it?

I'm so glad you started with the IASW tradition. So cute. Crowds sound like they were so low-- I'm jealous!!

Looking forward to more!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Sorry about your mom's feet. Good thing she is traveling with an always prepared DIS'er. Although I can't help but think that perhaps your TR title foreshadows how her back and ankle fare on the rest of the trip?

Sounds like you had a great night. I definitely want to try the Wave someday. That's a nice little walk over to the Contemporary, isn't it?

I'm so glad you started with the IASW tradition. So cute. Crowds sound like they were so low-- I'm jealous!!

Looking forward to more!!

Morning C!
Ya, you're on to me...Mom didn't fair too well there...but we took care of her and made the best of things for sure.

The walk over to the Contemporary is very nice, never knew it was there so it was nice!!

The crowds were PERFECT! Couldn't have ordered any better.....I heard it definately picked up the weekend we left...as I'm sure you know!

Hoping to update today, assuming the stars aline and the kids behave!! LOL!

Happy Monday!!!

 

[meeko_33785]

Nice update. The Wave looks and sounds really good. It'd on our list for possible restaurants to try in the future, so I appreciate the review.

How sweet about Small World. What a perfect way to start the visit to Magic Kingdom.

 

[brookelizabeth]

First, congratulations on starting your career!!! That is very exciting! Plus, it sounds great that your office is going to be flexible with your hours.

Do you have to join the local, state and National Boards? And buy the electronic key? I always felt so bad for people just starting out because it's a LOT of money to start with all the dues, the keys, the lockboxes - plus fees your office may charge to start up. Ugh.

I do recall our local Board dues being a bit more expensive though because we included all Continuing Education classes in the cost - we were the only Board in the State to do that!

I kinda miss my job there. While I never did the actual real estate part of it, just being around all that and learning in all the Continuing Ed classes I had to oversee, was so much fun-SUCH an interesting field!!!

And how nice that you have a bit of a head-start and overseer with your Mom being a pro in the business!!

Oh-and I have to throw in a real estate lingo here....I hope you can hog your first listing!!
(I know some offices even have a squeaky pig they squeeze when they are able to hog!!! Kinda funny, but that extra commission is always a good thing!!)

Back to Disney World....
We loved our meal at The Wave too! It was just excellent. We loved the calm atmosphere in there, relaxing, good food, good service!

Sounds like an awesome way to wrap up day one at MK. A very fun, but exhausting night! I hope your Mom's feet get better, but I'm thinking not by the title of your TR!!!!

 

[MeMom]

We have no plan of attack once through the turnstiles, it's about 8 pm at this point, we make our way down Main Street and take it all in...the castle, the people, the smells, the magic.....I was SO HAPPY to finally be there!

We decide that we have no choice but to ride IASW, for those of you just joining in, this was our tradition growing up, Mom would INSIST that we start our vacation with IASW, I've since instilled this in my children and didn't expect anything less for this trip. I didn't take out my camera for the rest of the night, sorry, we did get some pics from photopass, but haven't received this as of yet. I will post them once I get them, hope that's okay.
We enjoyed our ride through IASW, I couldn't help but think of my boys at that moment, how happy I was to have this special trip with just my Mom & sister, and got teary eyed for just the moment.

I have been thinking all morning about that magical Disney feeling. This time last week, I was at Epcot. Right now, I'm back at my desk. Boo.

I'm so, so glad you were able to take this trip! I want to take Jill within the next year, at least for a long weekend, without the girls. It would be good for her to be just Jill again for a few days.

You are a blessed girl to have had this good time with your 'first' family and then have those great boys waiting back at home for you when it was over!