blestmom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2004
- Messages
- 1,867
#1. Who's Going...and Who's Not. 
#2. The Critters. And oh yes, our ADR's.
#3. Fastpasses make me feel stupid.
#4. Last Day strategy...any advice??http://www.disboards.com/threads/no...ary-2016-updated-11-24.3464755/#post-54790345http://www.disboards.com/threads/no...ary-2016-updated-11-24.3464755/#post-54790345
Remember when your kids were little? Remember when you had one of those crappy bad days when the kids were really a handful? And someone older would come up and tell you to “cherish those days,” because they grow up quickly? And those little problems like fighting with their brother over who got to sit in the front seat or being mad that McDonald’s was out of the exact kids’ meal toy they wanted…would seem so small and miniscule?
They were right.
My “little kids” are grown up now. 26, 24, 22, 19 and 17. (Excuse me, I just shed a little tear when I realized how OLD I am. Seeing it in print is a bit shocking.)
Then...
[URL='http://s53.photobucket.com/user/blestmom/media/Disney%202016/PreTrip%20Report/10433902_10152530062128487_5961059100319560229_n_zpsqja7l635.jpg.html']
And now...
Now, with all of these “adult” kids, it seems like it is:
No doubt...some of it’s good drama (“Mom, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”). Some of it not so good (“Mom, I can’t find a job anywhere.”) And yes, we even still deal with sisters in a good ol’ fashioned screaming match because one wore the other’s favorite sweater. I’m not kidding. 22 and 19 years old.
So…what does all this have to do with a Disney Pre Trip report? Admitedly, not much,
but it does set the stage as to how I got to planning this trip.
……..
But enough with words! Here is the cast of characters:
Me: Deb
I grew up a Disney kid. My parents took us there several times. I asked for a trip for my high school graduation. And also for my college graduation. And after I got married and had kids (okay, a long hiatus there) my DH has sent me back several times. He doesn’t really care for Disney, or for much travel, which is kind of a bummer. I had thought we would experience it together, and he would come to see the error of his ways and I would astound him with all my savvy Disney travel wisdom, but he just isn’t into it. He is somewhat of a workaholic. Okay, he is a full-fledged workaholic. But he has come to realize that I need to get out of Alaska from time to time, or I go stir-crazy with cabin fever. Especially in winter. This was the temperature yesterday morning:
The inside of the door is iced over….
It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet! I used to think “snow birds” were people who just weren’t ‘tough’ enough to endure an Alaskan winter. Now I get it. And I'm pretty sure I’ll be joining their flock as soon as the last kiddo leaves the nest.
Anyway, here is DH (with my oldest son), who does deserve honorable mention for working so hard to fund these Disney excursions of mine. He is not, however, coming on this trip:
This trip will be taken with just my youngest, Andrew, who is 17:
Andrew truly did grow up as a Disney kid…
I used to take all the kids to Disney by myself….and once, just because 5 kids wasn’t enough of a challenge to take by myself, we invited our sons’ best friend to come with us too. Yep…just me and 6 kids flying from Alaska to Disneyworld. Good times….
My next trips consisted of 5 kids, then 3 kids, then 2 kids, and now…just the 1. And it is bittersweet because I know that these next couple of trips will be the last with my youngest kid living at home.
I’ve already told the kids I’m bound and determined to make solo trips to Disney once they’ve all moved up and out…I’m not joking.
But back to this trip...
This fall seemed to be an ‘intense’ time of “adult child drama.” Oldest son and his wife are hunky dory. So no drama there (although we are just waiting on pins and needles for some “good” drama news any day now…like the pitter patter of impending tiny feet…but nothing yet. My girls are so snoopy every time they visit over there…”Mom, I saw she has a doctor’s appointment scheduled on the calendar. Do you think it could be?” “Mom, I think the shirt she was wearing was a maternity shirt.” Oh, the poor thing…) But I digress.
But son #2 does have drama. Some of it good (like a special girl in his life) but he has had a dickens of a time finding a job after graduating college. He got a degree in Petroleum Engineering. And as soon as he graduated…the oil industry in Alaska tanked. Like, big time. He applied all summer long with no success. Finally, just a month ago, he got a job offer in North Dakota. So off he went. Poor dude had to shave his beard though. Something to do with being fitted for a gas mask in case of a gas leak. He’s had impressive facial hair since 10th grade. I miss him. And his beard.
Middle child #3, I love her. But she is one of my two drama queens. And she lives up to the name. She moved back home this summer after living with my oldest son for 3 years. But his getting married kind of necessitated that change. And she had no luck finding an acceptable roommate living situation, so she is back home. Now, once a grown child has been living out of the home for awhile and then comes back, well, there can be some definite drama, let’s just say. Oh my, yes.
And then there is my younger daughter, who is Drama Queen #2. As in for real, she is pursuing drama. She is even heading out to stay with a family friend in New York in January and taking some musical theater lessons. And she certainly is practicing her drama at home. She had to give up half her room when her older sister returned home. That did not go over so well. This daughter also is, shall we say, motor vehical-ly challenged? She just got her license (yes, at 19) and on her 2nd day of driving to work, managed to get the car stuck in the ditch going to work, and then again coming home from work. And this is what she was wearing to scrape the snow and ice off the car in freezing temperatures:
No boots, no hat, no gloves. This is a child born and raised in Alaska. She should know better. But…boots, hats and gloves aren’t fashionable. She will learn…she will learn.
And then there is Andrew. The youngest of the bunch. Amazingly, this kid has great common sense, and really is a help around here. I truly do enjoy our trips together, for the most part. Sure, every now and then he has his moments, but I’m pretty good at recognizing them and ‘diffusing’ before it turns into drama.
After a particularly tense fall of kids coming home, bringing all their ‘stuff’ back into our small house, kids leaving home, kids starting jobs, kids quitting jobs, kids taking driving tests, kids’ relationships starting, kids’ relationships ending…well, I told DH I just needed to get away for awhile, for a little break. He knows I need it.
So we used frequent flyer miles and booked my son and I a nice long 17-day (yes…17-day) getaway to Disney.
Our travel dates: January 20-February 6, 2016
Where we are staying: Pop Century (17 days…yeah, we’re staying at a Value!)[/url]
#2. The Critters. And oh yes, our ADR's.
#3. Fastpasses make me feel stupid.
#4. Last Day strategy...any advice??http://www.disboards.com/threads/no...ary-2016-updated-11-24.3464755/#post-54790345http://www.disboards.com/threads/no...ary-2016-updated-11-24.3464755/#post-54790345
Remember when your kids were little? Remember when you had one of those crappy bad days when the kids were really a handful? And someone older would come up and tell you to “cherish those days,” because they grow up quickly? And those little problems like fighting with their brother over who got to sit in the front seat or being mad that McDonald’s was out of the exact kids’ meal toy they wanted…would seem so small and miniscule?
They were right.
My “little kids” are grown up now. 26, 24, 22, 19 and 17. (Excuse me, I just shed a little tear when I realized how OLD I am. Seeing it in print is a bit shocking.)
Then...
[URL='http://s53.photobucket.com/user/blestmom/media/Disney%202016/PreTrip%20Report/10433902_10152530062128487_5961059100319560229_n_zpsqja7l635.jpg.html']
And now...
Now, with all of these “adult” kids, it seems like it is:
No doubt...some of it’s good drama (“Mom, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”). Some of it not so good (“Mom, I can’t find a job anywhere.”) And yes, we even still deal with sisters in a good ol’ fashioned screaming match because one wore the other’s favorite sweater. I’m not kidding. 22 and 19 years old.
So…what does all this have to do with a Disney Pre Trip report? Admitedly, not much,
but it does set the stage as to how I got to planning this trip.……..
But enough with words! Here is the cast of characters:
Me: Deb
I grew up a Disney kid. My parents took us there several times. I asked for a trip for my high school graduation. And also for my college graduation. And after I got married and had kids (okay, a long hiatus there) my DH has sent me back several times. He doesn’t really care for Disney, or for much travel, which is kind of a bummer. I had thought we would experience it together, and he would come to see the error of his ways and I would astound him with all my savvy Disney travel wisdom, but he just isn’t into it. He is somewhat of a workaholic. Okay, he is a full-fledged workaholic. But he has come to realize that I need to get out of Alaska from time to time, or I go stir-crazy with cabin fever. Especially in winter. This was the temperature yesterday morning:
The inside of the door is iced over….
It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet! I used to think “snow birds” were people who just weren’t ‘tough’ enough to endure an Alaskan winter. Now I get it. And I'm pretty sure I’ll be joining their flock as soon as the last kiddo leaves the nest.
Anyway, here is DH (with my oldest son), who does deserve honorable mention for working so hard to fund these Disney excursions of mine. He is not, however, coming on this trip:
This trip will be taken with just my youngest, Andrew, who is 17:
Andrew truly did grow up as a Disney kid…
I used to take all the kids to Disney by myself….and once, just because 5 kids wasn’t enough of a challenge to take by myself, we invited our sons’ best friend to come with us too. Yep…just me and 6 kids flying from Alaska to Disneyworld. Good times….
My next trips consisted of 5 kids, then 3 kids, then 2 kids, and now…just the 1. And it is bittersweet because I know that these next couple of trips will be the last with my youngest kid living at home.
I’ve already told the kids I’m bound and determined to make solo trips to Disney once they’ve all moved up and out…I’m not joking.
But back to this trip...
This fall seemed to be an ‘intense’ time of “adult child drama.” Oldest son and his wife are hunky dory. So no drama there (although we are just waiting on pins and needles for some “good” drama news any day now…like the pitter patter of impending tiny feet…but nothing yet. My girls are so snoopy every time they visit over there…”Mom, I saw she has a doctor’s appointment scheduled on the calendar. Do you think it could be?” “Mom, I think the shirt she was wearing was a maternity shirt.” Oh, the poor thing…) But I digress.
But son #2 does have drama. Some of it good (like a special girl in his life) but he has had a dickens of a time finding a job after graduating college. He got a degree in Petroleum Engineering. And as soon as he graduated…the oil industry in Alaska tanked. Like, big time. He applied all summer long with no success. Finally, just a month ago, he got a job offer in North Dakota. So off he went. Poor dude had to shave his beard though. Something to do with being fitted for a gas mask in case of a gas leak. He’s had impressive facial hair since 10th grade. I miss him. And his beard.
Middle child #3, I love her. But she is one of my two drama queens. And she lives up to the name. She moved back home this summer after living with my oldest son for 3 years. But his getting married kind of necessitated that change. And she had no luck finding an acceptable roommate living situation, so she is back home. Now, once a grown child has been living out of the home for awhile and then comes back, well, there can be some definite drama, let’s just say. Oh my, yes.
And then there is my younger daughter, who is Drama Queen #2. As in for real, she is pursuing drama. She is even heading out to stay with a family friend in New York in January and taking some musical theater lessons. And she certainly is practicing her drama at home. She had to give up half her room when her older sister returned home. That did not go over so well. This daughter also is, shall we say, motor vehical-ly challenged? She just got her license (yes, at 19) and on her 2nd day of driving to work, managed to get the car stuck in the ditch going to work, and then again coming home from work. And this is what she was wearing to scrape the snow and ice off the car in freezing temperatures:
No boots, no hat, no gloves. This is a child born and raised in Alaska. She should know better. But…boots, hats and gloves aren’t fashionable. She will learn…she will learn.
And then there is Andrew. The youngest of the bunch. Amazingly, this kid has great common sense, and really is a help around here. I truly do enjoy our trips together, for the most part. Sure, every now and then he has his moments, but I’m pretty good at recognizing them and ‘diffusing’ before it turns into drama.
After a particularly tense fall of kids coming home, bringing all their ‘stuff’ back into our small house, kids leaving home, kids starting jobs, kids quitting jobs, kids taking driving tests, kids’ relationships starting, kids’ relationships ending…well, I told DH I just needed to get away for awhile, for a little break. He knows I need it.
So we used frequent flyer miles and booked my son and I a nice long 17-day (yes…17-day) getaway to Disney.
Our travel dates: January 20-February 6, 2016
Where we are staying: Pop Century (17 days…yeah, we’re staying at a Value!)[/url]
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They are all rescues. I'm a sucker for a rescue animals.
