Our "Once in a Lifetime Trip to Disney"...yeah, right

[imadisneyfanatic]

 

[MomofCKJ]

Just found yours and subscribing so I can read later today! I got through the pre-trip and need to hear the rest! I can tell already I like your writing style, you made me giggle and I'm only on my first cup of coffee this morning!

Allyson

 

[momof2disprincesses]

I'm subscribing too. You write so well. Thanks for letting us "live the magic" through you vicariously.

BTW, I'm from WI and loved your comment about how AAA patched you through to us

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

ooo! i can't wait for more!

 

[tarheeltink]

I love your report so far and can't wait to read more!

 

[daisygirl]

just subscribing...... great story! we leave Saturday and I can't wait!

 

[dustysky]

will there be more ?

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

I'm hooked

 

[Disneygal4life]

Subscribing. I'm so excited to hear about someone's first Disney trip. The presents were a great touch. Looking forward to more.

 

[DebIreland]

Just a note to those subscribing to the thread. You don't need to post to a thread to subscribe. If you go to 'Thread Tools' at the top of the page you're on (or it might be near the bottom left of the page in some cases) you can click 'Subscribe to this thread' and then click 'ok'! Just a handy tip for the future.

busymom, can't wait to read more!!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

what a fantastic report ... please post more soon!!!

kat

 

[KJF]

Great storytelling!! It's so exciting to read!! I can't wait for the rest...

 

[crzy4mickey]

subscribing as well....can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[tink2020]

I must confess.... it usually takes a lot to make me read through whole trip reports when I don't know somebody or their family. but I'm hooked on yours! Please get back to us when you can!

 

[MagicMe]

Very anxious to hear more...Please post soon

 

[AllAboutPluto]

Hurry back!!!

 

[busymom72]

Aaawwww shucks... thanks everybody for your support and encouragement. Makes me feel bad that I've kept you waiting. I actually did have another installment done, but the computer gremlins ate it. Keep your fingers crossed for this one.

Ok, so I'd just revisited my childhood and passed on the tradition of the vacation wake-up routine. I headed back to Princess' room so as not to miss her reaction to her Tinkerbell gift. She was slowly coming awake and sleepily opened her EYE. Notice that's not plural. One eye was completely stuck shut. I tried to hide my dismay and helped her to the bathroom so we could gently wash the gook out of her eye. ( I really hope no one's eating right now.) Then she suddenly remembered "the secret" and rushed back to her room. She was excited about the gift, but what impressed her even more was the personal note from Tinkerbell, and she was absolutely giddy about finding pixie dust scattered around her door. But I hadn't planned on this one - she started to try to scrape up the dust and asked me, "Do you think there is enough here for me to fly?" "Ummm, yeah, well, I think Peter Pan or Tinkerbell have to sprinkle it right on you for it to work."

Luckily, she's 6. She still thinks I'm brilliant and always right about everything. So she accepted what I said as gospel truth and hurried off to scream at Tink & Dude to "Get out of bed, you lazybuns, and see what Tinkerbell brought you!!" They ripped open their cd's and - being the well-mannered children I have pounded it into their little heads to be - started to thank me. They caught my paniced "no, no, no" look and quickly switched gears to say how they couldn't wait to get to Disneyworld to thank Tinkerbell, and how did she know exactly what they wanted? (thanks, guys )

So all the last minute packing began. You know how it is...
"Did you pack my favorite jeans? I was going to wear those....
Has anybody seen my toothbrush?..
did you feed the dog?...
did you unplug the computer...
Oh, for crying out loud, we're only going to be gone a week, how many suitcases do you think we need?....
Moommm, I can't wear that, I'll look like a dork....
You look like a dork, no matter what you wear....
That's enough you two....
He started it!.....
Well, I'm going to finish it. Knock it off!"

It was during the chaos that I briefly considered "forgetting" to pack my swimsuit. Then I could just sit by the pool and read, and spare everybody at the happiest place on earth the trauma of seeing "Girls Gone Wild - The Overweight Albino Version". I didn't want to embarass my kids. but then I thought about it. I embarass the older two just by waking up every morning ( and by singing show tunes in the grocery store but that's another story), so why should this be any different? However, Princess still thinks I'm funny and smart and even pretty. And she'll be sad if I don't go swimming or to the water parks with her. And another thing...this is my vacation too!! I will never see those people again. So if they snicker and wonder how many ho-ho's I had for breakfast, so what!? Even if the Disney planning video shows only beautiful, skinny people, I refuse to believe they are the ONLY ones who take their families to Disneyworld! So with a triumphant gleam in my eye, in went the swimsuit!....and the cover up...baby steps.

Tink was busy cooing her goodbyes to her cat and Princess was saying a tearful farewell to her Puppy(remember, stuffed variety). You see, at age 6, Princess still sucks on her fingers and cuddles Puppy while she's sleeping or bored or sad. She's tried to stop, but much like Bear's nicotine addiction, she just hasn't been able to give it up. We had talked, and she had agreed that this trip might be a good time to try to go it alone. We knew it would be rough as Puppy had been her constant companion since she was 6 months old. And he looked it. The black part of his plastic eyes had rubbed off, so he looked blind. I had stitched up so many holes in him, he looked like the dog of Frankenstein. And she knew that if she lost him somewhere along the trip, he would be gone forever. At least if she left him at home he would be safe. Besides he was ugly. I know, I'm not supposed to care what other people think, but be honest, we all want our kids to look their best out in public. Nobody wants a stranger thinking, "Oh, look at the poor little grungy orphan." So, bye bye Puppy, see you in a week.

While the girls were bidding fond farewells to their beloved things, Bear was saying goodbye to his...he was out in the garage smoking his last cigarette. I did consider stowing a pack in my suitcase in case he became intolerable, but I decided to just have faith. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

My dad arrived to drive us to the airport, about an hour & 1/2 away. He had been our biggest cheerleader for this trip. When we first mentioned the possiblity of going and our hesitation for financial reasons, he had urged us to go. "Go now before its too late. Don't wait until you can afford it, or you'll never do it. This is too important to keep saying "someday." I'm sure in his words there were echoes of regret for the lost chances of my own childhood. Don't get me wrong, I had a great childhood. But my dad's a farmer, and there was never a "day off". We had our one vacation a year, and the other 358 days were dedicated to the land and the livestock. So, it took on special meaning, when we crawled into the van and my dad turned and winked at my kids and said - "Ready to go see Mickey Mouse?" Daddies...gotta love 'em.

Up next: Day 1 -part 2 (We WILL get there. I promise.)

 

[KTSMOM]

Tink was busy cooing her goodbyes to her cat and Princess was saying a tearful farewell to her Puppy(remember, stuffed variety). You see, at age 6, Princess still sucks on her fingers and cuddles Puppy while she's sleeping or bored or sad. She's tried to stop, but much like Bear's nicotine addiction, she just hasn't been able to give it up. We had talked, and she had agreed that this trip might be a good time to try to go it alone. We knew it would be rough as Puppy had been her constant companion since she was 6 months old. And he looked it. The black part of his plastic eyes had rubbed off, so he looked blind. I had stitched up so many holes in him, he looked like the dog of Frankenstein. And she knew that if she lost him somewhere along the trip, he would be gone forever. At least if she left him at home he would be safe. Besides he was ugly. I know, I'm not supposed to care what other people think, but be honest, we all want our kids to look their best out in public. Nobody wants a stranger thinking, "Oh, look at the poor little grungy orphan." So, bye bye Puppy, see you in a week.[/B]

My DD is 5 1/2 and does the exact same thing with a stuffed bear that she has had since she was 2. We accidently left the bear at home during our last DW trip and she handled it pretty well, especially since we bought her a stuffed Pluto while we were there. I thought that was going to be the last of the bear..but alas she tossed poor Pluto to the side within moments of getting home and the bear is numero uno again.

Loving your trip report so far! Thanks for posting it!

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

Yes, my dd had to take her beloved "kitty" on our trip. I guarded that cat with my life, lol.

 

[Pink Disney]

I know you're a busy mom, but I need more. Please continue. I am loving your report.