tinksdreamwishes
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2009
- Messages
- 615
Alright! Here we goooo!!!!!!!! My first ever Pre-Trip report!!! 
Writing this is almost making me as nervous as going to Disneyland and the whole planning! So bare with me- as I am a crazy person!
So where do I begin? I suppose an introduction of the who, why, when, and where's!
Well first there is me- my name is Christal. As you can see, its spelled very different from my most Crystals that you meet. I think its a perfect princess spelling! Princess Christal! Very Classy!
I am almost 35 and have 5, yes.... 5 children. They came in pairs- my first 2 are half Filipino/White. They are now almost 18 and 17- boys. That was from a very early teen marriage. If they had one of those reality shows called Teen Moms back in those days I would have signed up for it! Needless too say- that didn't work out. And so the next 2 arrived a few years later. They are also mixed- this time- half African American/White. My daughter is soon to be 12 and my son is almost 9! That relationship didn't work out either- atleast I didn't marry him 
And that is when I met my Prince! We had met thru work at Hollywood Video. They don't exist anymore- and after I had worked there I wasn't surprised it went out of business! Long story short- I fell in love at first sight. He was already married- so it took him longer. As soon as she cheated on him- and he told me about it, and they were going to split up- yada yada yada... I made my move. We was married a year latter! 
Nobody was going to take my Prince away from me!!! My husband er DH had left Hollywood Video and worked at Barnes and Nobles. Which is no better. I had left HV and went to work at a Thrift Store. They had told me that I could not request vacation time- even though i was asking months in advanced- and where would I be going?? MY VERY FIRST TRIP EVER TOO DISNEYLAND!! And no way was a job at a thrift store going to stand in my way of my very first trip ever! So I quit 2 weeks before that trip- it was in 2004. That trip was awesome- however I was in such awe the whole time I don't really remember much of it! I do remember making my husband er DH - drive around the perimeter of the area just so I could look at the hotels! I had never seen such a sight before- and was so thrilled at what was inside! I kept telling him and pointing at all the hotels I wanted to stay at. I really do have a list. However, its getting smaller- thanks too Trip advisor and these Disboards- for tips on where and where not too stay! SO after that trip- I had no job. Thats when I went into Daycare. It boomed after a year and I need a helper- so I asked DH- to quit his job and help me. I also needed him to help because I had enough saved up to go to Tijuana to get a Lapband weight loss surgery. The surgery went well- I had lost 60 pounds and then we went on my second Disney trip- both of these Disney trips included my in-laws. I needed too mention that because they paid for it all- and because trips with them are crazy! Not very relaxing, but I was grateful. Anyways, after that trip was over I became pregnant with DH's
first child!
And he of course is mixed too- half Mexican/White! He will be 3 tomorrow! Ok up next is some pics- we all love pics!
Writing this is almost making me as nervous as going to Disneyland and the whole planning! So bare with me- as I am a crazy person!
So where do I begin? I suppose an introduction of the who, why, when, and where's!
Well first there is me- my name is Christal. As you can see, its spelled very different from my most Crystals that you meet. I think its a perfect princess spelling! Princess Christal! Very Classy!
I am almost 35 and have 5, yes.... 5 children. They came in pairs- my first 2 are half Filipino/White. They are now almost 18 and 17- boys. That was from a very early teen marriage. If they had one of those reality shows called Teen Moms back in those days I would have signed up for it! Needless too say- that didn't work out. And so the next 2 arrived a few years later. They are also mixed- this time- half African American/White. My daughter is soon to be 12 and my son is almost 9! That relationship didn't work out either- atleast I didn't marry him And that is when I met my Prince! We had met thru work at Hollywood Video. They don't exist anymore- and after I had worked there I wasn't surprised it went out of business! Long story short- I fell in love at first sight. He was already married- so it took him longer. As soon as she cheated on him- and he told me about it, and they were going to split up- yada yada yada... I made my move. We was married a year latter! Nobody was going to take my Prince away from me!!! My husband er DH had left Hollywood Video and worked at Barnes and Nobles. Which is no better. I had left HV and went to work at a Thrift Store. They had told me that I could not request vacation time- even though i was asking months in advanced- and where would I be going?? MY VERY FIRST TRIP EVER TOO DISNEYLAND!! And no way was a job at a thrift store going to stand in my way of my very first trip ever! So I quit 2 weeks before that trip- it was in 2004. That trip was awesome- however I was in such awe the whole time I don't really remember much of it! I do remember making my husband er DH - drive around the perimeter of the area just so I could look at the hotels! I had never seen such a sight before- and was so thrilled at what was inside! I kept telling him and pointing at all the hotels I wanted to stay at. I really do have a list. However, its getting smaller- thanks too Trip advisor and these Disboards- for tips on where and where not too stay! SO after that trip- I had no job. Thats when I went into Daycare. It boomed after a year and I need a helper- so I asked DH- to quit his job and help me. I also needed him to help because I had enough saved up to go to Tijuana to get a Lapband weight loss surgery. The surgery went well- I had lost 60 pounds and then we went on my second Disney trip- both of these Disney trips included my in-laws. I needed too mention that because they paid for it all- and because trips with them are crazy! Not very relaxing, but I was grateful. Anyways, after that trip was over I became pregnant with DH's first child!
And he of course is mixed too- half Mexican/White! He will be 3 tomorrow! Ok up next is some pics- we all love pics!
It has been a huge stress for me- and I was supposed to go to DL in Jan- I had scrapped up some funds- but we cancelled due to these kids getting us sick. Then in Feb- I was like- lets go to DL- they had a family weekend day special with Mardi Gras- I love New Oreleans Square and wanted to go- but these kids got us sick again! Then there was March- I had a opportunity to go for a weekend- like all day Sat and a few hours on Sun. But as I thought about it- if this was my only Disney vacation this year- this won't satisfy me! It felt too rushed. I was glad we didn't go- we got sick again! So now its April- I finally told those parents that this is the last month I am watching their kids. I can't take it anymore! Which has caused me great stress since they are friends of the family. I am a germ freak. I clean everything, scrub everything- I am the kind of person that cleans down the window on a plane, the seat the tray- at the hotel- I clean everything off with Lysol Wipes and Spray and inspect the bed for bugs and needles- before anyone goes in the room. I drive DH nuts, but atleast I have a peace of mind. And trust me- I have seen some kids due some nasty things since having a daycare!
I was on antibiotics and pain killers- but DL ill isnt fun!
The hard part was- well I run my daycare out of the house. The bank kept sending us these foreclosure letters- telling us it would go to auction on Dec 13th. This was not settling well with me- I didn't want to move right before Christmas- and I didn't want DH to worry about moving during Finals week. So I convinced him that we would move to the house that was for rent- down the street and around the corner. And we would do this Nov 1. We had to tell all the daycare parents of the move etc, get relicensed from the state for my daycare- which was a real hassle. They have all these rules- basically we had to be moved in and licensed on the same day to not interrupt the daycare. And so on Sat Nov 6th it was all done! And a huge relief- I still had my business and a roof over our heads. Trying to count every penny to survive and stick to a plan is hard! But we keep reminding ourselves that this is temporary and that things will get better in the future. Later that month we lost another daycare kid- do to a custody battle between the parents. 
Prolly get a sitter. I can not wait for this movie! I had wanted to go to DL in may- just for the Pirate stuff due to the movie release. But- I am hoping that Captain Jack Sparrow will be out for a photo op when we go in June! I would love a picture with him! 
what was Disney thinking? How could they not put a spa in a on-site hotel? Just doesn't make since to me at all. They say you can use the Grands spa- but seriously I don't see my fat but trouncing thru the PPH lobby, cross the street, go thru the Grand lobby, and then off to the spa! 
Maybe someday- but not this year- and of course there is always the Grand. Did it once- and it will always be my number #1 choice if I have the money to do it! But not this year- 
!!!!
That isn't nothing on what you find in Stockton, Ca! LOL! I find Harbor Blvd to be delightful! I love all the lights lit up at night in the trees- I love walking back to my hotel with mobs of other people walking to their hotel room. I love walking past all the people waiting for ART-knowing they might be sitting for awhile. I will be in the spa- before they even get a seat on the ART!!! I love waiting for the the light to turn green at the crosswalk- and talking to other families about what a magical day they had! I even like giving the bums a dollar or two- to teach my kids kindness to others, who are unfortunate. (even though they will prolly use it at the liquor store). And while walking down to our choosen hotel- I like to play the game on which hotel other people have picked- and give a little chuckle or two when I see them going towards the crappy motels- like the Castle Inn. 
