shellybaxter
Dis Veteran <br>Disney Restaurants for one hundre
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2003
- Messages
- 5,506
Hi,
Today is finally packing day, so I thought I would write a pre-trip report. We are leaving in just 6 days. The "we" are myself, Shelly 35yo preschool director, DH, Brent 38yo electronic technician, and Dniece, Jonna 4.5 year old princess. Well, she's aunt Shelly's princess anyway.
I grew up in a family that didn't believe in vacations where other people would be around. Lots of camping when I was younger. So we NEVER went to Disney. We live in Northern California (up by Lake Tahoe) but never ventured south. I remember watching Wide World of Disney on TV and dreaming about going to the castle, but never thinking I'd ever get to go. And I was right, until I married Brent. His family was from Los Angeles, and we went to visit them shortly after we were married. We didn't have a lot of money, so no nice hotels or nice resturants for us. We "spurged" and ate at the Hungry Bear in Frontiernland for lunch. We stayed with relatives. I LOVED Disneyland and couldn't wait to go back.
As we both got jobs (married just out of college) and made it bit more $$, I went back every couple of years or so. Then Jonna was born. She is wonderful. I love her so much. Her mother has some severe depression issues and can't work, so she lives near my parents with Jonna. My job is to spoil her. So as someone who never sherks a responsibility, DH and I took Jonna to Disneyland when she was 2.5 years old. She loved it and we had our first "family" vacation. DH and I can not have children, so Jonna is as close as we get. I will never forget our trip to Disneyland.
After we returned, my job got crazy. Our program built a new 10,000 square foot building and expanded to serve 78 children. Lots of new everything, new equipment, new families, new staff, new stress. At the end of the expansion I really NEEDED a vacation. I said to DH, who hates to spend money, "We need a vacation. Want to go back to Disneyland?" He didn't want to because we had just been. I suggested a few other places and was searching online for other ideas when I came accross an ad for Disney World.
Now, I grew up thinking I'd never get to Disneyland, so Disney World seemed as far away as China, and about as unreachable. So I casually mentioned that maybe we could go to Disney World. To my udder amazement DH said, "okay". I was in heaven. I had a package booked (paid way too much money) with airfare and ground transportation in record time. PS were made and I was ready to go.
We stayed at POR for 7 nights. Really didn't make out on the package deal, because we checked in the night of the first day (didn't use the UPH day) and left at noon on check out day. I was truely in heaven, and I think this trip really helped our marriage. We hadn't been spending enough time together and this was quality, stress free, time, spent completely together. On the 4th or 5th day we were in Epcot and I wanted to see the American Adventure. As we walked up to the building DH spotted a Sam Adams beer seminar and he wanted to go. It was the same time as the AA show, so we split up. I was sitting in the theatre alone and realized that I really missed DH, it was a good feeling, one I haven't lost since we got back.
This was a dream vacation for us, with only one regret, Jonna hadn't come along. So when we got home we started planning for our "next" trip with Jonna. This was November of 2003 and we thought maybe January of 2005.
Well things happen. DH may be changing jobs, or even losing his job altogether sometime this year. Up until yesteday we thought he would know the week we returned, but last night found out it may be September before a decision is announced. He works for the US Forest Service and is possibly being outsourced. We didn't know if he would have any vacation time by January of 2005. I then got a letter from my employer saying I needed to take 14 days of vacation time before June 30. Jonna is starting Kindergarten in September, so we didn't know whether she could be pulled out in January. So we changed our plans and quickly planned our trip for the first week in May. I still can't believe we are going back so soon.
We will be staying at AKL with the BBY code - standard view. Even though we only decided to go at 38 days out I was able to get a PS for PSB in Epcot, so we will see the Princesses. All the rest of the PS have been made. The flights, rooms, tickets, and disney credit card have all been paid off, and we are ready to go.
I can't wait to see my little girl's face when she sees the castle, the princesses, the animals at the lodge, and so many other Disney magic things. This truely is a dream come true for me.
Sorry this was so long. I'll promise to try to write reports when I get back, but I can't promise they'll be short - LOL. We should be arriving at the airport for departure at this time next week. I just can't hardly wait.
Thanks for reading
Shelly
Today is finally packing day, so I thought I would write a pre-trip report. We are leaving in just 6 days. The "we" are myself, Shelly 35yo preschool director, DH, Brent 38yo electronic technician, and Dniece, Jonna 4.5 year old princess. Well, she's aunt Shelly's princess anyway.
I grew up in a family that didn't believe in vacations where other people would be around. Lots of camping when I was younger. So we NEVER went to Disney. We live in Northern California (up by Lake Tahoe) but never ventured south. I remember watching Wide World of Disney on TV and dreaming about going to the castle, but never thinking I'd ever get to go. And I was right, until I married Brent. His family was from Los Angeles, and we went to visit them shortly after we were married. We didn't have a lot of money, so no nice hotels or nice resturants for us. We "spurged" and ate at the Hungry Bear in Frontiernland for lunch. We stayed with relatives. I LOVED Disneyland and couldn't wait to go back.
As we both got jobs (married just out of college) and made it bit more $$, I went back every couple of years or so. Then Jonna was born. She is wonderful. I love her so much. Her mother has some severe depression issues and can't work, so she lives near my parents with Jonna. My job is to spoil her. So as someone who never sherks a responsibility, DH and I took Jonna to Disneyland when she was 2.5 years old. She loved it and we had our first "family" vacation. DH and I can not have children, so Jonna is as close as we get. I will never forget our trip to Disneyland.
After we returned, my job got crazy. Our program built a new 10,000 square foot building and expanded to serve 78 children. Lots of new everything, new equipment, new families, new staff, new stress. At the end of the expansion I really NEEDED a vacation. I said to DH, who hates to spend money, "We need a vacation. Want to go back to Disneyland?" He didn't want to because we had just been. I suggested a few other places and was searching online for other ideas when I came accross an ad for Disney World.
Now, I grew up thinking I'd never get to Disneyland, so Disney World seemed as far away as China, and about as unreachable. So I casually mentioned that maybe we could go to Disney World. To my udder amazement DH said, "okay". I was in heaven. I had a package booked (paid way too much money) with airfare and ground transportation in record time. PS were made and I was ready to go.
We stayed at POR for 7 nights. Really didn't make out on the package deal, because we checked in the night of the first day (didn't use the UPH day) and left at noon on check out day. I was truely in heaven, and I think this trip really helped our marriage. We hadn't been spending enough time together and this was quality, stress free, time, spent completely together. On the 4th or 5th day we were in Epcot and I wanted to see the American Adventure. As we walked up to the building DH spotted a Sam Adams beer seminar and he wanted to go. It was the same time as the AA show, so we split up. I was sitting in the theatre alone and realized that I really missed DH, it was a good feeling, one I haven't lost since we got back.
This was a dream vacation for us, with only one regret, Jonna hadn't come along. So when we got home we started planning for our "next" trip with Jonna. This was November of 2003 and we thought maybe January of 2005.
Well things happen. DH may be changing jobs, or even losing his job altogether sometime this year. Up until yesteday we thought he would know the week we returned, but last night found out it may be September before a decision is announced. He works for the US Forest Service and is possibly being outsourced. We didn't know if he would have any vacation time by January of 2005. I then got a letter from my employer saying I needed to take 14 days of vacation time before June 30. Jonna is starting Kindergarten in September, so we didn't know whether she could be pulled out in January. So we changed our plans and quickly planned our trip for the first week in May. I still can't believe we are going back so soon.
We will be staying at AKL with the BBY code - standard view. Even though we only decided to go at 38 days out I was able to get a PS for PSB in Epcot, so we will see the Princesses. All the rest of the PS have been made. The flights, rooms, tickets, and disney credit card have all been paid off, and we are ready to go.
I can't wait to see my little girl's face when she sees the castle, the princesses, the animals at the lodge, and so many other Disney magic things. This truely is a dream come true for me.
Sorry this was so long. I'll promise to try to write reports when I get back, but I can't promise they'll be short - LOL. We should be arriving at the airport for departure at this time next week. I just can't hardly wait.
Thanks for reading
Shelly
You are a great Aunt and your DH is terrific. Have fun and report back!!
