Hi!
After reading, and reading, and reading on this board, I'm feeling like doing a little writing, so here I go!
How we started: DH and I always planned to take our 2 to WDW, but never really talked about when. Summers went by, and we went elsewhere while the kids were younger, and in the back of my head was ... wait until they're a little older and easier to travel with and more likely to remember the trip... (while I've been really struck by how people talk about the "magic" of the World, and how families make repeated vacations there, it is quite possible that this may be our one and only trip there, so we wanted to wait until the kids were just a bit older...) Well, a couple of weeks ago, I said to DH, should we go this summer? We'd just been back to his parents (half the country away) last summer, and weren't planning to return to the mid-west until next summer. And we didn't have any other plans yet for family travel this summer. So I suggested that we talk to a AAA rep together and see what they have to offer.... he agreed.
The next thing I know, I'm at work, DH calls me on the cell phone, and he's on the land line with AAA (so he's got a phone in each ear; a two-fisted caller!) making plans for our trip! I'd no idea he was so enthusaistic.
He's talking resorts, specific weeks of travel, airline reservations, dining plan, trip insurance, all these details, with me listening in on the other end of the conversation (I can barely hear the AAA rep). I was so surprised at his interest and excitement (cool!)! I end up going next door to check with my Boss about getting a week off in July, and magic poof, that seals the deal, we've started on our Disney Planning! Whee!
So, we booked at the PO-Riverside from July 21 - 28, with the dining plan for DH, J (dd 12) and T (ds 10). On my way home from work I stop by the bookstore to buy a disney planning book, but to hide, because we haven't decided how to tell the kids yet. We knew we weren't going to keep it a secret for long, because we wanted them to enjoy the anticipation. Plus, they've always wanted to go (dd says, "everyone else at school has been to WDW, we need to go!")
Let me introduce us properly. I work at a research firm full time, and have lots of extra home activities (girl scouts, boy scouts, taking children to and from music lessons, nothing everybody else doesn't do!). DH is a grad student finishing up his degree, slowly, so he is also home for the kids a good part of the time. DD, 12, has a wonderful temperament, loves good food, shopping, music, and school. DS, 10, also has a great temperament, although cranky when tired, is a picky eater, we're trying to get him off video games, likes his teachers but just tolerates school, and hates his piano lessons.
After only a day of keeping our secret, we decided to tell the kids over dinner that we were finally going to WDW. DH got them excited by telling them that he had a surprise to tell them, but he couldn't say until I got home from work. So of course they were worked up into a frenzy by the time I got home. They guessed it had to do with vacation, and J was already talking WDW, but DH didn't let on. DH had them guess where we might go for the summer, and they guessed the mid-west again.... no.... a nearby water park.... no..... washington dc..... no..... WDW? "Should we go to WDW, DH?" "I don't know, what do you think, DW?" And by that time, they had it and were very happy with us (how often does _that_ happen!) and with the upcoming trip.
Next: I discover the DISboards and the importance of ADRs and make a bunch of 'em!
After reading, and reading, and reading on this board, I'm feeling like doing a little writing, so here I go!
How we started: DH and I always planned to take our 2 to WDW, but never really talked about when. Summers went by, and we went elsewhere while the kids were younger, and in the back of my head was ... wait until they're a little older and easier to travel with and more likely to remember the trip... (while I've been really struck by how people talk about the "magic" of the World, and how families make repeated vacations there, it is quite possible that this may be our one and only trip there, so we wanted to wait until the kids were just a bit older...) Well, a couple of weeks ago, I said to DH, should we go this summer? We'd just been back to his parents (half the country away) last summer, and weren't planning to return to the mid-west until next summer. And we didn't have any other plans yet for family travel this summer. So I suggested that we talk to a AAA rep together and see what they have to offer.... he agreed.
The next thing I know, I'm at work, DH calls me on the cell phone, and he's on the land line with AAA (so he's got a phone in each ear; a two-fisted caller!) making plans for our trip! I'd no idea he was so enthusaistic.
He's talking resorts, specific weeks of travel, airline reservations, dining plan, trip insurance, all these details, with me listening in on the other end of the conversation (I can barely hear the AAA rep). I was so surprised at his interest and excitement (cool!)! I end up going next door to check with my Boss about getting a week off in July, and magic poof, that seals the deal, we've started on our Disney Planning! Whee!So, we booked at the PO-Riverside from July 21 - 28, with the dining plan for DH, J (dd 12) and T (ds 10). On my way home from work I stop by the bookstore to buy a disney planning book, but to hide, because we haven't decided how to tell the kids yet. We knew we weren't going to keep it a secret for long, because we wanted them to enjoy the anticipation. Plus, they've always wanted to go (dd says, "everyone else at school has been to WDW, we need to go!")
Let me introduce us properly. I work at a research firm full time, and have lots of extra home activities (girl scouts, boy scouts, taking children to and from music lessons, nothing everybody else doesn't do!). DH is a grad student finishing up his degree, slowly, so he is also home for the kids a good part of the time. DD, 12, has a wonderful temperament, loves good food, shopping, music, and school. DS, 10, also has a great temperament, although cranky when tired, is a picky eater, we're trying to get him off video games, likes his teachers but just tolerates school, and hates his piano lessons.
After only a day of keeping our secret, we decided to tell the kids over dinner that we were finally going to WDW. DH got them excited by telling them that he had a surprise to tell them, but he couldn't say until I got home from work. So of course they were worked up into a frenzy by the time I got home. They guessed it had to do with vacation, and J was already talking WDW, but DH didn't let on. DH had them guess where we might go for the summer, and they guessed the mid-west again.... no.... a nearby water park.... no..... washington dc..... no..... WDW? "Should we go to WDW, DH?" "I don't know, what do you think, DW?" And by that time, they had it and were very happy with us (how often does _that_ happen!) and with the upcoming trip.
Next: I discover the DISboards and the importance of ADRs and make a bunch of 'em!
; how peaceful!
What a fountain of information! What nice people! What _great_ pictures of Disney food! yum! My husband is amused that I've spent so much time here reading about Disney ("are you going to become a Disney expert" "you betcha")!
He was so out of sorts last night; just laying around the house waching TV. He even tried to do his homework with his poor fevered brain (the teacher sent him home with homework?!) and I encouraged him to stop after 15 minutes or so, he looked so pitiful. He feels OK now (still sleeping); he was worried that if he doesn't make it to school today he'll break his perfect attendance record.
). And tomorrow afternoon is her vocal competition! You go girl! 
Thought i would translate abbreviations till you get used to them.
(2.5 down)
