Stacybaeasm
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 1,735
It is finally time for me to start my trip report. I wasn't sure I was going to write this one actually. Not only was it, in my own words, weird but I have been in a very bizarre emotional place for the last 6 months. I needed a couple of weeks after I got back to really process the trip, figure where I stand emotionally, and just accept a lot of things in my life. You see, I've been having a mid-life crisis (my words) and/or suffering from depression (my therapist's words.) Either way, it has made for a really rocky 6 months. I've been questioning my life, my career, my choices and thinking "what if." It didn't help that my 20th class reunion came and went over the summer. I didn't go because summer is my busiest time but it certainly caused a lot of reflection.
I tell you all this because it leads up to the trip. I had HUGE expectations for this vacation. Unrealistic expectations truly. This isn't my first time (nor my last time) at Disney and I should have known better on a lot of fronts, but I was sure that my love for Disney and the Disney magic was going to make everything all better. Did it? Well, come on along and find out.
One of the first challanges going in was that I am usually a solo tripper. Sure, sometimes my buddy Rob comes along for a few days, but I get a lot of time, by myself, in the parks to do things "my way." I am a professional stage manager so I have serious control issues (along with time issues, follow through with things issues, and well, issue issues.) This time, however, there was a group of people going. Different groups of people really. And I was the only common link between the groups. Not a comfortable place for me to be as I found out. Anyway, here are the group of characters that bravely tagged along to Disney.
Me - 38 years old. I believe I have been a Disney princess since birth. I only went to Disney twice as a child but, after living in Florida for 3 years, rediscovered my love and embraced my need to vacation here. Every time I plan a trip, my dad looks sad and asks "Was your childhood really that bad?"
No daddy. I just need more magic in my life NOW. As you can probably guess from the previous paragraph, I am the planner, time keeper, and general pusher for all the vacation needs.
Rob - somewhere in his mid twenties. Rob and I have been friends since he was 15. He's a great friend who embraces all things Disney. He makes me laugh and he truly believes in the Disney magic. Oh, and thank goodness he has understanding girlfriends who don't freak out at the fact that he takes a vacation with me every year!
Lisa - she'll kill me if I say how old she is. She is the musical director at the theatre I work for. She's a great friend and is always ready to whip out her laptop and take a ride on You Tube with me. This was our first attempt at a trip together - really kind of a warm up trip to the February TeamSTAGES signs at Disney trip we have coming up.
Cindy - ok, she doesn't read this so I can use this phrase one more time - she is older than dirt.
Actually, that's an old joke that I have been using on her since we met. She is a long time friend. We met when I joined the theatre department as a freshman - she was the department secretary. She was my mom away from home when I needed one and a great companion in crime at other times. She is also mom to:
Amber - also in her mid-twenties. Amber has always been like my little sister. In fact, when she does something that maybe she shouldn't and I ask "who raised you" she generally answers "You did." It's true. I see a lot of her mother and of me in her personality, poor kid.
She was also the person who introduced me to Rob way back. They were best friends in middle school and brought him around on weekends when I would stay at her place.
Katie - a friend from another theatre. I worked with Katie when I lived in Florida which is also where Rob currently works. Ok, this is getting too complicated for me and I know everybody. Katie is a Disney lover from birth and is also a DVC owner. She is actually working on making me a convert right now.
No one's name were changed to protect the innocent because, well, none of them are innocent! I was at the world from October 10-18 and the group varied every day. I hope some of you come along for the ride and find out why I describe the trip as "weird, then good, then weird." Did everyone survive? What did I learn about myself? And what things did I not get to do (which certainly means I have to go back soon?)
I tell you all this because it leads up to the trip. I had HUGE expectations for this vacation. Unrealistic expectations truly. This isn't my first time (nor my last time) at Disney and I should have known better on a lot of fronts, but I was sure that my love for Disney and the Disney magic was going to make everything all better. Did it? Well, come on along and find out.
One of the first challanges going in was that I am usually a solo tripper. Sure, sometimes my buddy Rob comes along for a few days, but I get a lot of time, by myself, in the parks to do things "my way." I am a professional stage manager so I have serious control issues (along with time issues, follow through with things issues, and well, issue issues.) This time, however, there was a group of people going. Different groups of people really. And I was the only common link between the groups. Not a comfortable place for me to be as I found out. Anyway, here are the group of characters that bravely tagged along to Disney.
Me - 38 years old. I believe I have been a Disney princess since birth. I only went to Disney twice as a child but, after living in Florida for 3 years, rediscovered my love and embraced my need to vacation here. Every time I plan a trip, my dad looks sad and asks "Was your childhood really that bad?"
No daddy. I just need more magic in my life NOW. As you can probably guess from the previous paragraph, I am the planner, time keeper, and general pusher for all the vacation needs.Rob - somewhere in his mid twenties. Rob and I have been friends since he was 15. He's a great friend who embraces all things Disney. He makes me laugh and he truly believes in the Disney magic. Oh, and thank goodness he has understanding girlfriends who don't freak out at the fact that he takes a vacation with me every year!
Lisa - she'll kill me if I say how old she is. She is the musical director at the theatre I work for. She's a great friend and is always ready to whip out her laptop and take a ride on You Tube with me. This was our first attempt at a trip together - really kind of a warm up trip to the February TeamSTAGES signs at Disney trip we have coming up.
Cindy - ok, she doesn't read this so I can use this phrase one more time - she is older than dirt.
Actually, that's an old joke that I have been using on her since we met. She is a long time friend. We met when I joined the theatre department as a freshman - she was the department secretary. She was my mom away from home when I needed one and a great companion in crime at other times. She is also mom to:Amber - also in her mid-twenties. Amber has always been like my little sister. In fact, when she does something that maybe she shouldn't and I ask "who raised you" she generally answers "You did." It's true. I see a lot of her mother and of me in her personality, poor kid.
She was also the person who introduced me to Rob way back. They were best friends in middle school and brought him around on weekends when I would stay at her place. Katie - a friend from another theatre. I worked with Katie when I lived in Florida which is also where Rob currently works. Ok, this is getting too complicated for me and I know everybody. Katie is a Disney lover from birth and is also a DVC owner. She is actually working on making me a convert right now.
No one's name were changed to protect the innocent because, well, none of them are innocent! I was at the world from October 10-18 and the group varied every day. I hope some of you come along for the ride and find out why I describe the trip as "weird, then good, then weird." Did everyone survive? What did I learn about myself? And what things did I not get to do (which certainly means I have to go back soon?)
Thanks for coming along for the ride. I hope it is worth it!
That is the funniest thing I have seen in awhile!
Yay for being there at the same time. Where did you stay?
