Need Honest Opinions

[WDWorBUST]

Thanks for everyone's input and support. I did decide not to go because it's just not a responsible thing to do. We went last September when I was 32 weeks pregnant and DH was out of a job because we were going with friends and because we were trying to be "positive" about his job situation. (At that time he was at least drawing unemployment) Now though it would be crazy - Besides why on earth would I choose summer anyway. And with a 7 month old baby at the time. To answer the question about what my husband does - well he has mostly worked in sales and customer service although he has a degree in criminal justice. We had waited 8 years before we started trying to get pregnant to be more "stable" - what a joke that was. But we are coping. I have a wonderful job - if not high paying - for a wonderful company that is absolutely wonderful to me. DH has an interview Friday which I am keeping my fingers crossed about. My hopes are for him to get a job with a stable company that he can grow with. I can get debt paid off and I can go to Disney World in December of 2005 like I had originally planned. I do appreciate all the HONEST answers. That was exactly what I was looking for. So for now I have fended off the "Disney bug" - hopefully I can keep it away. If things turn around quickly enough I might try for a December trip - but only if it can work in the budge without adding more debt.

Thanks again all!
Amanda

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think you made the right decision, however hard it is. If you were anything like me you'd feel guilty for going when you couldn't really afford it and have a real slump when you came back. You're baby will have a great time just being with you, whatever you are doing.

My DD has mentioned wanting to possibly go into criminal justice...is the job market in that field generally tough to be in?

As long as you have along range goal of when you want to go to WDW that should help. You can plan away for that trip. Afterall, planning is cheap, it's the actual trip that costs so much.

Good luck and I hope the job interview goes well!

T&B

 

[M. Eisner]

Not going was the right decision. If you are in that difficult of a situation, you need to get it fixed before you spend money. As Americans it seems we feel we "need" a break rather than dealing with our problems. Perhaps you could use some of the money to pay your father back if he is letting you use the house for no rent. Maybe that would be a nice way to say thank you to him!

 

[jcemom]

I understand your situation perfectly and I think you made the right decision. Is there anything you can do locally during your vacation week to spend time together as a family and unwind too? Are there any state parks or zoos near you? Something inexpensive like a picnic at the park or zoo always helps me feel better for a while. I wish your DH good luck on his interview!

 

[dansyr]

I can relate a little...anyway. right now I am unemployed and looking for a job. It's taking a little longer than I thought it would and we have a trip planned for sept. I know if I don't find a job within the next month...I going to need to cancel the trip....just the thought is heartbreaking.
My advice is....if you truly can't afford it. Don't go now....but plan a trip for maybe a year from now. The planning will keep you going. I know as long as I have trip in the works I'm happy.

 

[CanadaPT]

Good decision, and good luck for your husband!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Advice for job seekers: It's who you know, it really is. Network as much as possible to find people who work doing what you want to do. Talk to them about jobs with their company. If you just try to mail out resumes, it will be very slow until someone really notices what you can do. Sometimes working as a volunteer for the people you want to go to work for can pay off.

It's very depressing to be out of work. I was out of work quite a while ago, but have been steadily employed for several years now.

 

[PattiPB]

Good for you, Amanda! You made a difficult and unpopular (at least to you!!!) decision.

One stereotype about us DISer's---we are all planners! Take advantage of that part of your nature and concentrate your obsession on planning for 12/05! Create a 3-ring binder with all the great tidbits from the boards. Make a restaurant section using the menus on Deb's site! Print out the 12/2003 park operating hours to make itineraries!! The opportunities are endless.

Any time I need to feed my DIS obsession, I come to the boards and read read read!!! If you're feeling blue, avoid the "single digit dance" posts, but pour over the trip reports for suggestions and possible wait times!

Stay positive, and remember you will POSITIVELY get through this period, and WDW will POSITIVELY be waiting for you!!!!!

 

[Iheoma]

Amanda, I'm sorry about your situation - the one thing constant in life is change and things often change for the better. I think that PattiPB's advice to plan and plan and plan may be a good way to get through this rough time and give you something to look forward to.

I have been planning our trip for almost four years now. After our honeymoon in Feb. of 2000 we were planning a trip for Jan. 2001 and had just bought the tickets when I found out I was pregnant. We too had waited several years to get married and start a family (waiting to finish grad school, get jobs, become stable). My doctor told me that I couldn't travel after we already had unrefundable tickets. So while I was totally excited about being pregnant I was disappointed about not being able to go to WDW. We made plans again to go the summer of 2001. Well, in October of '01 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer (my daughter was just 3 months old). We cancelled the trip to WDW and spent two weeks with my parents that summer. It was a fantastic trip and was a great time with my mother. My mother died in October 2002. Needless to say I was devastated. I was a working mom (with a long day like yours), my dh was trying to be helpful but didn't really understand and I had a young child. He suggested that we go to WDW in the summer of '03 to get away from things and have some WDW magic. Well it turned out that we simply didn't have the money to do the trip. We could have put it on our credit card or skipped some bills to pay for it but after a lot of talking and crying and disappointment we decided not to go.

So I understand your need for some WDW magic and your disappointment with not being able to go. Don't feel guilty that you want and need something special to help you through tough times. I can tell you that this trip we're taking, although we're not staying at the most expensive deluxe, and we're not flying 1st class and we're not staying two weeks (just 8 days) is sweeter because of the journey it has taken to get to this point. What got me through some of my toughest times were buying the guide books, watching disney videos and of course reading the DIS site (especially the trip reports ). Hang in there and keep being positive and dreaming about WDW.

Iheoma