I'm not going to USA I'm going to another world! Coming home from across the pond PTR

[Sundancer UK]

My first ever pre trip report plan - and indeed my first ever trip to Disney! So no idea what I'm doing on either, you guys will have to bear with me and prod me in the right direction when needed

Hiya, my name is Elaine and ...I'm going to Disney World!

This really is a trip of a lifetime for us and I'm doing the very best I can to make it good, without getting perfectionist and ruining it. I'm learning as I go from friends, reading and this board, of course! Oh, and much googling...



I'm gonna leap right in to it with our 'cast':

The big ones

Elaine, Me. 30 year old mum of 4. Disney fan from a young age.
Likes: Making memories, sandwiches, birthday parties and beautiful things.
Dislikes: Stress, moody people, walnuts (they try to kill me).

Liam, My husband. Not a huge Disney fan but will do almost anything to make me happy
Likes: Taking photos, being efficient, kung fu, rugby.
Dislikes: Being late, miserable children, football (oops, I should probably say soccer)

The small ones

Frazer: My son, 9 years old but almost 10 - we will be celebrating his birthday on holiday!
Likes: Toy Story, Star Wars, cooking, eating, rugby, music.
Dislikes: Homework, tidying his room

Scarlett: My daughter, 8 years old.
Likes: Minnie Mouse, pretty princess stuff, dressing up, ballet, fairies (so girly, right?)
Dislikes: Spiders, moths, people that don't want to play.

Rowan: My second son, 6 years old.
Likes: No, LOVES Star Wars, computer games, Toy Story, chocolate, dogs.
Dislikes: Cute things, computer bans (our only threat!)

Robin: My baby boy, almost 22 months old. Considering also celebrating his birthday while out there, but he wont even realise anyway!
Likes: In the Night Garden (do you get this show in the US?), mama snuggles, his scooter, playing with his older siblings.
Dislikes: Car travel

So there you have it, the 6 of us are going to Disney and SO excited about it!
We've never even had passports before, so of course not been on holiday overseas.
The title comes from something my husband said though: he pointed out that because of me we aren't actually going to another country - we're going to *Disneyworld* and if I have my way we wont be seeing anything else in the US apart from the airport!
Although we are in the UK, I've been dreaming of this journey for so long that a part of me really does feel like I'm coming home. I so so hope that the World lives up to the dream


Coming next: How this trip came about for a family low on money that never vacations!

.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Forgot to add that yes, I know we are now down to less than a month(!) until we leave - so this PTR is gonna be a bit intense, I hope!

Just don't let me forget it's here lol

.

 

[ZFamily5]

Can't wait to read all about your plans! Sounds like you have a great family!!

 

[clayfolks]

I'm in!! It sounds great so far.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Can't wait to read all about your plans! Sounds like you have a great family!!

Thanks, I think my lot are pretty darn lovely too. I look forward to sharing more!

I'm in!! It sounds great so far.

Thanks - good to see you!

Yeay I have readers! I expected to be all alone


It's late, and I'm feeling ick - but I have some SUPER news I need to share! Actually, it's so super I'm tempted to give it a seperate thread! lol

 

[Sundancer UK]

OK, so we're pretty poor - why are we doing this??!


I'll let you in to a dark and gloomy secret here. Well actually, it's not so secret - my childhood was not great. Lots went on, but in a way more importantly, lost did not go on, which was pretty sad.
And I suspect that I'm not alone in being able to say that what was lacking in my early years, I made up for in dreaming of Disney

I can remember being deperate to go to my granddad's house, because he had a VHS player and I could watch Dumbo, or Alice in Wonderland I had The Jungle Book on an audio cassette and as a result to this day I can still recite most words by heart I honed my artistic skills by tracing, copying and eventually creating my own Disney pictures, I Loved to do this while listening to the Lion King songs that were in the chart.
I spent my childhood watching the Disney Club on saturday morning TV - and wow - when Disneyland Paris opened up, I just wanted a piece of the action all the more!

...but I never got there. I never so much as got a passport.
However, I did get out of that life. I got adopted as a teen and grew up and made my own magic little family. We've never done wonderful, but we've done alright

Only a while ago we found out that we had massively overpaid our rent. For the past two years
Now would be the sensible time for one of us to learn to drive and actually get a car, right?
Naaaahhhh This is London! It's a nightmare to drive here, public transport works much betterand besides - DISNEY!!!

It doesn't mean we're loaded though - have you seen how much flights cost from the UK?! Plus the cost of Disney... But it's worth it, so we're doing it. On a budget but still, I'm coming home.

People have jokingly asked me who is more excited, me or the kids - I say it's a silly question because OF COURSE it's me!



I'm afraid it's late so I'm drawing to a close here, but coming next is a lovely dose of Pixie Dust!


.

 

[ZFamily5]

OK, so we're pretty poor - why are we doing this??!


I'll let you in to a dark and gloomy secret here. Well actually, it's not so secret - my childhood was not great. Lots went on, but in a way more importantly, lost did not go on, which was pretty sad.
And I suspect that I'm not alone in being able to say that what was lacking in my early years, I made up for in dreaming of Disney

I can remember being deperate to go to my granddad's house, because he had a VHS player and I could watch Dumbo, or Alice in Wonderland I had The Jungle Book on an audio cassette and as a result to this day I can still recite most words by heart I honed my artistic skills by tracing, copying and eventually creating my own Disney pictures, I Loved to do this while listening to the Lion King songs that were in the chart.
I spent my childhood watching the Disney Club on saturday morning TV - and wow - when Disneyland Paris opened up, I just wanted a piece of the action all the more!

...but I never got there. I never so much as got a passport.
However, I did get out of that life. I got adopted as a teen and grew up and made my own magic little family. We've never done wonderful, but we've done alright

Only a while ago we found out that we had massively overpaid our rent. For the past two years
Now would be the sensible time for one of us to learn to drive and actually get a car, right?
Naaaahhhh This is London! It's a nightmare to drive here, public transport works much betterand besides - DISNEY!!!

It doesn't mean we're loaded though - have you seen how much flights cost from the UK?! Plus the cost of Disney... But it's worth it, so we're doing it. On a budget but still, I'm coming home.

People have jokingly asked me who is more excited, me or the kids - I say it's a silly question because OF COURSE it's me!



I'm afraid it's late so I'm drawing to a close here, but coming next is a lovely dose of Pixie Dust!


.

What a great story! And I would have picked Disney over driving/a car any day!!

 

[disneywatcher]

More! MORE MORE!!

 

[Sundancer UK]

More! MORE MORE!!

Hey there! Welcome, I'm coming up with more now, but thinking photos might be appropriate too...

 

[Sundancer UK]

Pixie Dust Ahoy!!!

Well, I got some unexpected post!
I wasn't home when it arrived, so my husband went to collect it, he sent me a message on his way back saying he knew where it came from. This inflamed my curiosity. I knew it was fairly big too, so I was doubly curious!

So I leaped on him when he got in and he had a box...

A box from overseas...

A box from america...?

And in the corner Liam pointed out to me, a little 'hidden Mickey'

Can you imagine my bouncing now?

Dashed off, found a knife, carefully cut it open...
And whaddya know, it's a box full of Pixie Dust! Wow, such perfect surprises, tailor made for me and my family. I'm told they come from the mouse himself! How exciting!!!

There is a present in there for each of us, a special, thoughtful gift suiting each person, even me and Liam!

Robin was nearby and spotted the little Baby Donald straight away - so no secrets there! He *adores* Donald and calls him 'Oh dear Duck' because bad things are always happening to him. At the Disney Store Donald is up above people's heads getting tangled up in film, which fascinates Robin!
I am so happy for him - He got a giant Donald soft toy for christmas which he loves, but obviously we can't bring on holiday - now we can take Baby oh dear duck!

There is a princess pack for Scarlett, she will fall in love with that straight away; pencils, erasers and jewelery, just her thing

Rowan has a Mickey and Minnie Star Wars money box! How cool is that?! He Loves Star Wars - and I Love this because it's getting him in to Disney more!

Liam has a sun hat - Mickey must have known how easily he burns with his redhead type fair skin!
I have a shopping bag - I can put good use to that
There's a sticker book to share - that is, if I can bear to share...

Oh and best of all is Frazer's. He has a present of Disney World 4 parks themed baseballs. If that isn't going to get us in to the American spirit I don't know what will And add to that - BIRTHDAY MICKEY EARS!!! How awesome!

All hand labeled too - is it wrong to be quite so impressed that my gift is labeled 'Mum' and not 'Mom'?

Now the plan is not to tell the children. These would make such fun flight gifts (9 and a half hours, we need all the entertainment we can get!)
I may have let it slip though I really just can not contain my excitement!
So I've made it torture for them by reining it in - I told them we got a parcel from Mickey, but I wouldn't say what was inside! My poor poor children
But they're too lucky to feel sorry for, I mean, how many people get a box full of pixie dust right before they go on the holiday of a lifetime eh?


So I need to say something here. I know a lot of people read these boards, so I'd just like to put a message of thanks up to the lovely lovely person/mouse that sent this parcel in case they might see it.
If you are reading this, please know that you made this mum's day You brought love and snuggles to my baby boy, giving him a piece of Disney magic that he can carry around with him. You even raised a huge grin on the face of my husband - and yes, he will wear the hat!

My children are going to love their surprises. This is going to be the *best* holiday ever.


Coming next: Bad bargain choices and our plans so far...

.

 

[Corrine 1973]

I came over to take a look at your PTR and got a great surprise.
We both have Liam's
Yours is your DH and mine is my DS.
We also have the simularity of having four kids with 3 boys and 1 girl in exactly the same order (though the ages are slightly off)

I am so glad that you are able to take this little holiday across the pond back home. And how incredible that someone sent you such a great box of pixie dust. I am sure it will make this first trip even more special.

Can't wait to read more.

Is it strange that when I read your PTR the voice inside my head has an english accent?Must have been all those years playing a courtier at the Ren Faire.

 

[xanphylus]

Love the PTR so far!!! Sounds like a great trip and well deserved at that! Hope you all have a wonderful trip, filled with lots of pixie dust!!!

 

[Sundancer UK]

I came over to take a look at your PTR and got a great surprise.
We both have Liam's
Yours is your DH and mine is my DS.
We also have the simularity of having four kids with 3 boys and 1 girl in exactly the same order (though the ages are slightly off)

I am so glad that you are able to take this little holiday across the pond back home. And how incredible that someone sent you such a great box of pixie dust. I am sure it will make this first trip even more special.

Can't wait to read more.

Is it strange that when I read your PTR the voice inside my head has an english accent?Must have been all those years playing a courtier at the Ren Faire.

Wow - I love cool things like that Really I could have had a DS Liam by now, as my husband wanted to name a son after him! I kept saying no (I'm so mean, aren't I?) but we used William as a middle name (from an uncle that Liam was named after) and this wasn't good enough for him, so we also used Liam as a middle name on our last baby

Love the british accent thing - hone it in a little, I'm a Londoner I read you all in English! Going to be a shock when I get off the plane...

Love the PTR so far!!! Sounds like a great trip and well deserved at that! Hope you all have a wonderful trip, filled with lots of pixie dust!!!

Hi and thanks! I'm so glad I'm not boring people! I'm hoping the pixie dust follows us there...

 

[ariel_]

I am so excited for you! I will be keeping an eye on all your trip planning and can't wait till you get back to hear all about it

It always amazes me how kind and thoughtful people can be - whoever sent the package deserves their own pixie dust and I'm sure they will get it, good karma and all that!

I had my first trip in 2009 - whatever you are thinking your time in Disney will be like it will be a thousand times better! You can't possibly imagine it but you are going to have the best time ever!

Good luck x

 

[Sundancer UK]

I am so excited for you! I will be keeping an eye on all your trip planning and can't wait till you get back to hear all about it

It always amazes me how kind and thoughtful people can be - whoever sent the package deserves their own pixie dust and I'm sure they will get it, good karma and all that!

I had my first trip in 2009 - whatever you are thinking your time in Disney will be like it will be a thousand times better! You can't possibly imagine it but you are going to have the best time ever!

Good luck x

Reading stuff like this just makes me bouce for joy inside!
I'm actually having a bit of a miserable morning, woke up feeling quite sick and sorry for myself (fortunately it's the easter holidays here so no school run) but thinking of Disney is actually making me smile through the bleurgh feelings

 

[Truffle]

Great story so far! We are subscribing to your report.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Great story so far! We are subscribing to your report.

Hey welcome! And thank you

Ok guys I'm afraid to say it's almost 3am here so I'm not about to give you the promised update just yet truth is it's like the house of the plague here right now! The curse of a larger than average family is that when a vomiting virus strikes, it hangs around for AGES! It's been a week now and there's still one person that's not come down with it (yet!)

So when we're all done and germ free, I will get back - I've not forgotten you!

 

[Sundancer UK]

AARRRGGGHHH - doncha just hate it when you go to submit and lose everything you just typed?!
*sob* *cry* *banghead* *throwlaptop* *cry*

 

[clayfolks]

Please post some more...

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great start to your PTR! You are going to love ASMu...it was the very first resort we stayed at when my daughter was 6 (she's now 18) and it holds such special memories for us over the years. I can't wait to hear all about your plans and then read your TR when you return!