I'm so depressed

[ozarkmom]

This isn't a question and no one can help me I just feel like putting down it in words. Last summer after our oldest graduated from H.S. we surprised the kids with a trip to Orlando and they loved no we loved US and IOA. Anyway we really want to go back this summer but there is just no way to swing it. I'm trying to come up with something closer to home and less expensive that we can do for a week and I just can't get enthused. Oh well I need to be a big girl , suck it up and go on.

 

[AlexandNessa]

So, so sorry! Hope you can get there sooner than you think.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Next time you come down, try doing it on the cheap ! You can try using Priceline for your room, I am not sure how you feel about driving (not sure where you even live), but that may be cheaper than flying... or maybe Amtrack... if you start saving now, you can be here by next summer If you set a "target" time frame, then you will not be as depressed.. you have something to plan & look foward to.. I know if I didn't live as close as I do (3 hours away), I would not be able to go as much as I do. I think that is what keeps me living in this state

 

[Motherfletcher]

I always had fun at Silver Dollar City.

 

[robvia]

I can see what Ozarkmom is talking about.
I've been to Silver Dollar City and it's nice, but only takes a day to visit.
The big attraction in your area of the country would be to visit Holiday World to ride the Voyage.
Only thing is, you can do the entire park in 1 day, and then what? You could streatch it out for two days if you wanted to hang out in the water park. After that, you'd have to continue on to another park. Dollyworld would be an idea.

 

[ozarkmom]

We will probably go to Branson and we do enjoy Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and the water park. There really are alot of neat things to do there. We just had such a good time in Orlando and esp. US & IOA and now that we've been and know a little more we think it would be even more fun! My daughter graduates in two years so if we don't make it next summer then for sure we'll do it then. Like I said I was just feeling sorry for myself. Also I really like going to the gulf coast beaches and we may just drive down there. It can get expensive too but you don't have theme park tickets and we can drive. Orlando with our limited time off just isn't feasible to drive. We just don't have enough time . Thanks everyone for the encouragment!

 

[jpeppers]

I'm from the state of Washington but my memories from being a kid aren't "Disney". They are "Silver Dollar City". My Dad is from the Springfield area and this was our Disneyworld. I haven't been in about 27 years but I remember I loved it and hopefully i will take my daughter some day. Go where you can afford and enjoy.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I haven't been to Branson in about 45 years but the memories of Silver Dollar City are precious. I wonder if that area has changed any since I was last there? Let's see, there was the Baldknobbers and Sheperd of the Hills and that was it! Now from what I've seen on an episode of the Simpsons it has turned into Las Vegas without the gambling.

 

[ozarkmom]

I haven't been to Branson in about 45 years but the memories of Silver Dollar City are precious. I wonder if that area has changed any since I was last there? Let's see, there was the Baldknobbers and Sheperd of the Hills and that was it! Now from what I've seen on an episode of the Simpsons it has turned into Las Vegas without the gambling.

Oh my gosh 45 years! I only started going there about 10 years ago so I know it's changed alot. Even in the 10 years or so that we've been going it's changed. There's more shows than you can count. Silver Dollar City has changed alot over the years and the Hershend family have another theme park as well called Celebration City. There's a good water park, outlet malls, The worlds largest Titanic museum has just opened. There are Ripley's believe it or not, New this year is the Branson Landing Project it's downtown on Lake Taneycomo. It's shopping, entertainment, food etc. A Bass Pro shop is being built there with a marina. Gee the list goes on and on!

 

[robvia]

Yeah, it's huge, like a Las Vegas strip. As you drive in, you pass billboard after billboard for shows. Every show you can imagine is there. They just finished a new expressway, that takes people to the north, by-passing the strip. That's how we went when visiting.

 

[Motherfletcher]

See there is a lot to do. You'll have a good vacation.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm feeling the same way! I so want to go back to Orlando--as a family to Universal/IoA and I want to bring my youngest back to WDW, but it won't be happening for awhile. My DH is not a big Disney fan and my guess is that it will be at least a year for Universal.

It's hard to get excited about other places, though! We're getting season passes to Kings Dominion in VA and then going to Ohio and going to Kings Island and seeing some things in that area that we've never seen. Not really too exciting and I'm having a hard time planning that trip at all. I'd much rather go to Universal!

Which is why I'm poking around here on this forum...

 

[Snoopymom]

I know you're heard this before but you'd really be surprised at what you can gather up around your house to sell on ebay.

I did this two years ago and it paid for all our accomodations and a few meals at Disney. I started out with a few things, paid the one nights deposit which motivated me, sold a few more things, paid down another night, and so forth. I sold a camera, an old Nintendo game, baskets, vhs movies, toys, some of dh's fishing gear, a few ugly framed prints, just junk stuff that we haven't missed at all.


You could check around with friends and family to see if anyone wants to share a pool home. We stayed a week in one once for about $235 after it was split 3 ways.

If you go to the villa sites where you put in your criteria and wait for the owners to e-mail you back, some will give you a great deal if they need to fill the time slot. We just got a 5 bedroom house for $450 because the owner gave us a break for only needing space for just the 3 of us.

You can also save money on your meals this way, and if you're driving, you can buy snack stuff ahead of time, just a little at a time during your regular grocery shopping. We bring tons of bottled water, stuff to make margaritas, cereal, popcorn, crackers, etc. I even made ds a really cool race car themed cake with hotwheels and flags while we were staying in a villa.


Even if there is no possible way this summer, if you start saving just a little each week now, maybe you could take a more extravagant trip next year which would make skipping a year not seem so bad.

Sorry to go on and on, I just hate to see anyone skip vacations, life's too short!