In Memory-with love and wishes, surprise kiddos Nov. '12 PTR!!

[starbound25]

Hello there to the proud, the few of you who may be reading this! My first ever PTR! I have been reading post trip reports for days now! I feel cross eyed!

But here I am to do my first one and I hope someone, somewhere enjoys it! Now I'm going to have to figure out how to do chapters (anyone want to give me a heads up?) But we'll see if I can figure it out.

Let's start!

The Cast
Necessary Backstory
The plan, wait thats not the plan, this is the plan, no hold on a sec, wait this is the plan, no wait....
You're going to do WHAT?!?!!?
Pixie Dust is in the air!
Hey Brotha can you spare a dime?
Who STARTS running at 10pm?!?!?
Itinerary days 1-3
Must try to resist!
Itinerary days 4-6
Packing away a stash!
My brain is a hidden Mickey!!!

 

[starbound25]

Well hello there!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

A little about me- this will be in two parts and will make sense when you see part 2.

My name is Susan HI! I am a long time Disney fan! I'm 39 and am not sure how many times I've been to WDW. As a child probably between 7-8times
Then as an adult 3 times. There was a very long span of not going at all and now things have all changed. Literally my entire life has changed since 2009. So for part 1 of "my story" thats all you get.
My favorite park is - Magic Kingdom
Favorite ride- Splash Mountain
Fav characters- Pluto and Tigger!
Fav Disney Movie- Lady and the Tramp

Joining me on this trip is my sister (older haha) Debbie. A Disney fan but you'd almost never know it. She keeps it on the down low where I wear my Mickey heart on my sleeve
(debbie on right Susan on left)

Debbie fav park- MK, fav ride- haunted mansion, fav character- ANY of the villians!!

And in tow will be my 3 lovely (crazy) sweet, funny, spit-firey, fun, loving daughters. S-9 years, E-8 years, and my baby L-5 years.

DD S fav park- MK, fav ride- splash mountain, fav character-minnie, fav movie- little mermaid
DD E fav park-MK, ride- SM, character-tinkerbell, movie- tinkerbell
DD L- fav park-MK, ride- Dumbo, character-Dumbo, movie- Dumbo (sense a theme here? haha

My sister Debbie and I took the girls on their first trip ever in May 2011, this trip was not how it was supposed to be but more on that in the next post.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I'll be reading! Your daughters are cuties. Look forward to more info about your plans.

Carry on

 

[holleypie]

Hello! Your girls are adorable.

this trip was not how it was supposed to be but more on that in the next post.

Oh, the suspense. You sound like a professional pre-trip report writer already.

 

[TavieP]

what an adorable family!

 

[starbound25]

wow more than one person read this already!!!
That makes me want to continue! Ok then, next post coming up...

 

[TavieP]

Yes, keep going! Living vicariously...

 

[starbound25]

Ok so more about me and my story.

In 2000 I met the love of my life Marc. In May of 2001 we got married.

We spent our honeymoon at WDW.
in front of tree of life, I love his silly bucket hat <3

Marc and I both HUGE Disney fans. There was no other choice for where to go. When we were little we both went a lot with our families. Marc even lived in FL for a few years and had many trips. Here is a pic of us both with Pluto during the late 70's I"m going to say, we were both probably 7 or 8 years old, of course we had no clue about each other

and again from our honeymoon

A few years after getting married we had DD S and then a year later DD E, yes it was planned that way haha. We knew we wanted to get back to WDW but being a penny to penny family with very young kids we knew it would be a while. We always planned though to go back on our 10 year wedding anniversary and we would at that time renew our vows as well, this was planned for the Grand Floridian hotel.

So a few years after DD E (#2) we had DD L The sweetest, loveliest little girl. my baby

So for years leading up to the WDW trip we would talk about the trip with the kids, the older girls knew they'd be 7&8 when we were in WDW and the little one would be newly turned 4. ALL of us couldn't wait!!!
This would be May 2011 when this trip would occur.

Tragically, very, very, suddenly my dear, sweet, husband- the love of my life passed away November 2009. At just 37 years old.

My life since has been, well as you can imagine. He was my soul mate and the most amazing individual I'd ever me. We were perfect together and every second of every day I think of him and miss him. Part of me still lives with this weird denial.

I remember being in the back seat while my brother in law and sister were driving me to the funeral and I said to my sister "will you come with me and the girls to Disney in 2011. I can't take that trip away from the girls"

and she said "Absolutely, whatever you want."

So. Yes. That's pretty heavy right? Yup.
So Disney is one of the few glimmers of joy I hold onto. Besides my children of course.
I need Disney as much as they do.
I need the magic, the joy, the happiness, the memories, I need to have a trip to look forward to, to keep me going
and I need to give these incredible memories to my daughters.

So that's the necessary back story.

Up next: The plan, wait change that, oh hold on thats not the plan this is the plan, no wait again thats not the plan...

 

[Alysa]

I am so terribly sorry for your loss.
I look forward to reading about your journey with your girls. I hope every moment will be magical.
Sending prayers and best wishes.

 

[reyasmommy]

I'm sorry for your loss as well... I couldn't even begin to imagine what you and your beautiful kids have gone through. My prayers go out to all of you!

I'm so happy you'll get to take them to the happiest place on earth... As corny as it sounds, it makes your troubles disapear while you're there.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but you and your husband look soooo familiar? We were honeymooning at Disney the same time you were. ((May/June 2001)) Would be intersting if I remember you, from seeing you 11 years ago? Hmmm.

We'll be at WDW in November as well..... I can't wait to hear about all of your plans.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have no words, only this.

 

[MelMel11]

Sorry for your loss. Count me in!

 

[holleypie]

I can't even imagine. I'm so sad for you. That picture of your husband feeding the baby on the beach is just so sweet. I'm sure it's very special for your daughters to visit the place where their dad had so many happy memories.

Looking forward to hearing more about your plans!

 

[starbound25]

I am so terribly sorry for your loss.
I look forward to reading about your journey with your girls. I hope every moment will be magical.
Sending prayers and best wishes.

Thank you

I'm sorry for your loss as well... I couldn't even begin to imagine what you and your beautiful kids have gone through. My prayers go out to all of you!

I'm so happy you'll get to take them to the happiest place on earth... As corny as it sounds, it makes your troubles disapear while you're there.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but you and your husband look soooo familiar? We were honeymooning at Disney the same time you were. ((May/June 2001)) Would be intersting if I remember you, from seeing you 11 years ago? Hmmm.

We'll be at WDW in November as well..... I can't wait to hear about all of your plans.

Thank you and wow if somehow you saw us and remembered us thats just crazy haha. My husband had one of those faces too though where people always said "do I know you?"
we went on the honeymoon the week of may 5th 2001, stayed somewhere in kissimmi FL, he did go up the human statue in Italy at Epcot haha thats the only time we were in the spotlight though
and I cant believe now that you will be in WDW the SAME week I am going with my sister and girls this year! thats funny!

I have no words, only this.

thank you very much

Sorry for your loss. Count me in!

thank you

I can't even imagine. I'm so sad for you. That picture of your husband feeding the baby on the beach is just so sweet. I'm sure it's very special for your daughters to visit the place where their dad had so many happy memories.

Looking forward to hearing more about your plans!

thank you very much, yes Disney is so wonderful and happy and bittersweet but still so magical and to share it with the girls is just incredible

 

[starbound25]

Hi there!!! Thanks for coming back!

Can you tell by the title I will be throwing a lot of dates around in this post?

Ok let's go!

So sister and the girls and I went to WDW May 2011. The plan was to go back in 2 years so I would have time to save up enough money. So Spring 2013.

Then late last year I started seeing information on Disney during the holidays. Now my sister has been to Disney many more times than I have, she has 4 kids, (the youngest just turned 18) so for the past 18 years they went a LOT they are DVC members. Yet neither she nor I have been to WDW during the holidays!!! Not for halloween time or Christmas time! crazy!!

SO I told her I really really wanted to go in November for the holiday party and it would be nice to go on the anniversary week of my husbands passing as a way for me to deal with the very sad date a little easier.

So we changed from Spring 2013 to Nov. 2013. Which also pushed our vacation out from 2 years to 2 1/2 years boooo but how fun would that be!?!?!?!

Ok so very late last year I told my sister, wait how about we go Nov. 2012! I should get enough money from my tax return to cover almost all of it! GREAT we switched our plans to Nov. 2012!!! TOld the girls they were BEYOND EXCITED!!! Whoo hoo!!!

Feb. 2012 I do my taxes and WHOAH I am getting nothing, like nothing, not even close to what I predicted.

We had to cancel the Nov. 2012 trip Girls were very upset. Pushed the trip back out to Nov. 2013 but oh what a great time we would have right?!?!!

The girls and I were still not happy.

Sooooooooo

about a month ago I emailed my sister this

me "What would you say if I wanted to do something crazy?"

sister "as long as it doesnt hurt you then I"m probably going to say ok"

me- "what if we went to WDW THIS Nov"

sister "ok how the heck would you pull this off?"

me- "I can borrow against my student loans and then 1/3 of it I'll put on a CC"

sister "hmm I dont like the idea of at least 1K going on a CC"

me "I really really want to do this and I'm ok with paying it off and I need to have this to get me through to look forward to, another year and half is just wayy too long!"

sister "let me see if I have any DVD points I can use."
an hour later from sister "I can get the hotel for free. Let me see if Boardwalk has any openings for those dates"

Now Boardwalk is where my sister and family always stay, they love it. Here is a pic of this crazy chair in the lobby my sister just loves, she told the older girls to kiss it haha

So she emails me back "nothing at boardwalk, nothing anywhere, everything is all booked up, thats the last week of the F&W festival and the W&D marathon is then too"

me- "oh no!"

so I go to sleep thinking thats it, its over

next morning

sister "I can get us into saratoga springs but I wasnt sure if we should really do this or not. But...............
I booked it"


AHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


WOWOWOWOWW

So she booked it and I started posting things on ebay to try to raise more money so the less I can put on the CC the better!!!!

So we are officially going this November 2012!!! I am so excited!!

One of other really cool things

THE KIDS DONT KNOW IT YET!!!!!

They still think we're going Nov 2013 tee heee!!! I'm going to try as hard as I can to wait till 40 days out to tell them, my oldest needs time to prepare and plan you cant spring things on her so no way I can tell them the day off
I was going to do 100 days out but really want to wait till 40 days
IF I CAN!!!!

hahaa so thats how we ended up with Nov 2012!!!!!

Up Next: You're going to do WHAT????

 

[oceanwave]

I am so sorry about your loss

So glad that you were able to work out a trip for this November. your girls will be so excited!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

I'm joining in!
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know this trip will be an incredible experience for you and your family! I can't wait to hear the journey develop!

 

[starbound25]

Hi there!!! Hope you are enjoying my PTR so far and thanks to the few of you actually reading!

So we have our hotel booked:
Saratoga Springs- 1st time there for me and my sister. Hotel cost $0 SCORE with my sisters DVC points! Gotta love it

Dates- in case I didn't say Nov. 10-17th 2012

Park Hopper passes for 6 days $$$

So my sister is a pretty active runner. She works out 7 days a week, cardio and weight training and she really enjoys running. She has done a ton of 5K's and at least 2x a year does 1/2 marathons. Yes she's pretty awesome!

So she emails me this:

"Hey the day we fly in that is the night of the Wine and Dine 1/2 marathon. Wonder if I should do it?"

and of course I say GO FOR IT!!

But she is very concerned as its a night race! It starts at 10pm. My sister is usually asleep by 9/9:30pm. She gets up at 4:30 am usually to workout
Yes for real
So she is concerened 1. if she can really manage a night run. 2. having eaten and drank all day the potty breaks needed.

Now obviously most Disney runs you do not run for your best time. I mean there are a ton of people and sights to see and character photo ops (which she will not stop for haha not her thing)

But I said who cares!! The crowd and being in DISNEY alone will keep you awake for sure. Who cares about your time and how many potty breaks you have to take her time will still be good and just to do an actual marathon at DISNEY I mean come on!
The dates just happen to work out that our first night there is a marathon I mean the stars are all lining up!

So after about a week of debate she has decided to DO IT!!!!! She registered and sent me the emailing saying
"what have I done!?!??!"

I love it! The only thing I hate is that the girls and I cant be there to support her. The little ones will really need their sleep especially for the park the next day. We will be getting a bit of a later start on sunday since I'm sure my sister will sleep a bit past her early morning wake up and it may be an early night too since she'll probably be exhausted but I'm still so excited and proud of her for signing up and I know it will be an amazing experience!!!!

Here's the bonus that comes with this..

We get a pretty big discount on PARK PASSES!!!!! For me and my girls I will save almost $200!!!!!!


It was funny my sister said
"I said I'll do anything I can to help you and girls. I didn't know that meant running a marathon in the middle of the night but hey whatever it takes!!!"

haha love ya sister!! and thanks!!!!

Up Next: The Itinerary

 

[reyasmommy]

What a great sister you have there. Best of luck to her.

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

That is awesome!!! I think it would be so cool to run a 1/2 marathon at Disney (noticed I didn't say a "full"? I can't fathom the thought of running 26 miles! )

So glad y'all are saving some $$$! The two things we still need to buy are park passes and the Dining Plan. Gotta keep working and saving that dinero!

Can't wait to read about your plans!