Mom/Daughter Celebration Trip: A Tale of 2 Graduates!

[mousetravel]

Join me for another one of my Mom/Daughter pre-trip reports. This one is going to be extra special! Can't wait to share my plans with my Dis-friends!



I'll introduce us, for those who haven't read any of my previous reports.

I have been a single parent to DD for quit some time now. It's been challenging at times, but with tons of rewards, like getting to travel together...just the two of us!!

Here we are at Disney last year:

This is going to be the shortest pre-trip report I've done, because we're leaving next month!!

I have been super busy with school, clinicals, work, and tons of other stuff!

Yep, I have been going to school, which was really hard going back, being "older" So for the past two years, I've been in school for Pharmacy Tech, and I finally graduated a few weeks ago!!

DD also graduates high school THIS WEEK!!!!

I just can't believe how time has flown by so fast!

And then, a couple weeks after her graduation, we'll be celebrating her 18th birthday!!

So, you see, we have so much to celebrate and I cannot wait!!!



More coming up, with plans, dates, hotel, transportation, and schedules!!

 

[mousetravel]

"One graduation down, and one more to go!"



I finally graduated May 7th!! This was extra special to me, because I didn't think I could do it, and even considered giving up several times. But I knew DD was looking up to me and expected me to keep going. If I expected her not to give up, how could I not do this??

This was a very hard decision for me, a journey that I shared with my Dis-friends, and I thank all those who read my reports, commented on my posts, gave me advice, and supported me.

The day finally arrived and we had a wonderful graduation day!


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(my Pharmacy Tech side-kick)

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[happybelle]

Joining in.

 

[jenseib]

Congrats!!!!!! I am so proud of you!

 

[mousetravel]

Joining in.

Thanks for joining in on my PTR!

Congrats!!!!!! I am so proud of you!

Thanks!! I'm glad you're here for another one of my reports!

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm here for the next adventure

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! I'm sure it's such a relief to be over

 

[UGAFan0829]

I'm here and am SO excited to read all about your plans! Thanks for letting me know you'd gotten this started!

I'm so proud for you! When you said that you'd been in school for 2 years, it was crazy to think about...I had no idea it had been that long. It seems like just yesterday that you were telling me of your plans to go back!! Congrats! That's such a huge accomplishment, and something to be awful proud of!!

I can't wait for more...

 

[Lovemy3babes]

What a wonderful trip you have planned for such huge, special accomplishments! You're a great mom. I cannot wait to read more!

 

[klacey1]

Joining in!! Congratulations on your recent graduation-- what a wonderful example you are for your daughter to never give up!

 

[glaserjm]

Congratulations on your graduation! DH has been in school at night for a free years while working full time and I know it can be challenging to keep going...I can't imagine trying to do it while being a single mom... that's such a great accomplishment!

Looking forward to reading along.

 

[glaserjm]

Congratulations on your graduation! DH has been in school at night for a few years while working full time and I know it can be challenging to keep going...I can't imagine trying to do it while being a single mom... that's such a great accomplishment!

Looking forward to reading along.

 

[mousetravel]

I'm here for the next adventure

Thanks for joining another one of my reports!


CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! I'm sure it's such a relief to be over

Thank you!

I'm here and am SO excited to read all about your plans! Thanks for letting me know you'd gotten this started!

I'm so proud for you! When you said that you'd been in school for 2 years, it was crazy to think about...I had no idea it had been that long. It seems like just yesterday that you were telling me of your plans to go back!! Congrats! That's such a huge accomplishment, and something to be awful proud of!!

I can't wait for more...

Thanks for being here! Yeah, it doesn't seem like it's been that long since I started, but I'm so glad to finally be done!

What a wonderful trip you have planned for such huge, special accomplishments! You're a great mom. I cannot wait to read more!

Thank you! Glad to have you join me again!

Joining in!! Congratulations on your recent graduation-- what a wonderful example you are for your daughter to never give up!

Thank you so much!

Congratulations on your graduation! DH has been in school at night for a free years while working full time and I know it can be challenging to keep going...I can't imagine trying to do it while being a single mom... that's such a great accomplishment!

Looking forward to reading along.

Glad you joined in for my PTR!

It is really tough, especially when I was doing hospital clinicals. I was doing clinicals 7:30am to 4pm, then school 6pm-9pm! Those long days were really hard to handle!

 

[mousetravel]

Trip Details!!



Dates! June 20-27, 2013


Transportation:

We are flying again this time! I have driven there a few times, but it's just getting too tiring, now. It's about a 10 hour drive.
We have also taken the Amtrak to Orlando, and while it was really nice, it still took about the same amount of time to get there, plus the way the schedule is, the train travels there through the night, and we both have a really hard time sleeping on the train!

We will be traveling from GSP to Sanford, then getting a rental car and driving from Sanford to Orlando (it's an hour drive, not too bad!)


"Schedule"

I usually don't over-schedule everything, because we like to "go with the flow", and do whatever. But I do like to schedule which days we go to each park, and our ADR's.

Here's what I have so far:

June 20: arriving, checking in, Wal Mart run, and probably DTD

June 21: MK, Crystal Palace lunch

June 22: HS, 50's Prime Time (never had dinner there)

June 23: "lazy day", to do whatever. DD wants to head over to the Polynesian for breakfast and maybe ride the Sea Racers. We did that last year and it was so much fun!!

June 24: AK, Tusker House for breakfast

June 25: MK

June 26: HS for Y.E.S. class (more on that coming up), Boma for dinner

June 27: Hoping to visit "Theme Park Connection" before heading to the airport for departure day! I have been wanting to go there ever since I found out about the place. It's a Disney merchandise/supply type store that sells Disney memorabilia and Disney World props and items.

 

[mousetravel]

Hotel Details!

This time, we're going on more of a budget, therefore, we're staying offsite.

We've stayed onsite and offsite, and we actually have pros and cons of both. But since I've been in school, I have only been working part time for a while, so we're staying offsite, but it's still really close to Disney!!


We will be staying at Clarion Inn LBV. We have stayed there a few times and we really like it. It's only one mile from Disney (the DTD entrance).

Here's a few pics that I copied from one of my previous TR's:
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[SnowWhite607]

Read your trip report from last year......the title caught my eye since my DD and I are taking our first mother daughter trip in March 2014. It was her idea and we are both really looking forward to it.

Congrats on your graduation! I know it was difficult but you have set such a great example of hard work and diligence for your DD.

And she is GORGEOUS by the way! Senior pics were wonderful!

I am curious since we always stay on site.....how much of a pain is it to get back in the car and drive to your hotel in the middle of the day and then go back in the evening? It is real convenient for us usually but like I said, we stay on site and use WDW transportation. How did this work out for you cause its something I may consider in the future.

Poly is awesome - we stayed there in 2007. Gorgeous resort!

Looking forward to following your PTR and hope you have a great time on your next trip!

 

[mousetravel]

Read your trip report from last year......the title caught my eye since my DD and I are taking our first mother daughter trip in March 2014. It was her idea and we are both really looking forward to it.

Congrats on your graduation! I know it was difficult but you have set such a great example of hard work and diligence for your DD.

And she is GORGEOUS by the way! Senior pics were wonderful!

I am curious since we always stay on site.....how much of a pain is it to get back in the car and drive to your hotel in the middle of the day and then go back in the evening? It is real convenient for us usually but like I said, we stay on site and use WDW transportation. How did this work out for you cause its something I may consider in the future.

Poly is awesome - we stayed there in 2007. Gorgeous resort!

Looking forward to following your PTR and hope you have a great time on your next trip!

Thanks for joining in! And thanks for the compliments!

I know you'll have a great time on your mom/daughter trip!

We have never had a problem driving to the parks. After staying onsite, I've found it to be much quicker with our own car, rather than waiting on the buses! Especially when we stayed at AKL, those buses took forever! Even if we leave during the day, and return after a break, we have always made it work, with no problems. The only downside of it is having to pay for parking.

So, from experiencing both sides of it, I'd still prefer to drive, rather than taking the bus. It's just so much quicker!

 

[UGAFan0829]

It's so exciting to see your plans all written out! I can't wait to hear what you think about 50's Prime Time!!! And I love that you have an "off" day built in there!

The hotel looks really, really nice! I think you made a great choice! And you can't beat the location!

I'm interested to hear what you think about Theme Park Connection. I see some of their posts on FB, and wondered exactly how much stuff they carry.

 

[Pinkocto]

Your plans sound great I've tried to plan in an off day but can never stick with the plan. 50s Prime Time is delicious!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

You will definitely enjoy 50's Prime Time! The server you get makes a bit of a difference too but the food is very hearty and yummy.

Your hotel looks nice! I understand the trip on a budget thing all too well. Sure wish I could win that lottery. I'd take tons of trips and buy into DVC for sure! haha!!

 

[wiigirl]

Your plans sound awesome!