PTR- A Promise Kept...

[chellt]

Intro:
So, before I start, I have to admit that up until about 6 months ago, Disney wasn't even on my radar. As a single, childless, 35 year old - I had never given Disney a second thought as a vacation. My idea of vacation has been NY, London, Germany, the beach, camping.... you get the idea...

But all that changed in a split second last January... My brother was killed in an accident. He left behind a widow and two beautiful little girls...

Soooo..... Fast forward six months and they were begging to go to Disney. We decided on the beach instead, but this summer - we are headed to Disney! Their Dad had always talked about taking them, and while it would be easier for us to curl up in a ball and mourn him for the rest of our lives, that wouldn't be fair to the girls! And I am willing to do anything that keeps his memory alive for them - even Disney!

I have mixed emotions about it....One, it is bittersweet to be going on this trip at all. I love my nieces to pieces, but I am aware of the fact that I am only going on this trip because he can't. And that breaks my heart....
And two, well, lets just be honest, I HATE amusement parks.

But....I am a super obsessive planner...so I have researched, planned, reserved and changed things til I thought my eyes would bug out!

But it is done. We will be staying at the Coronado (Casitas) June 14-21.

So that's it. That's how our little trip came to be.....

Up next: Cast of Characters..... and characters they are!!!

 

[DLB]

I am looking forward to reading more! Sorry for your loss. I am sure that the girls (and you) will have a wonderful time enjoying the parks in his memory.

 

[hollie1974]

I'm in.

I am so very sorry for the loss of your brother.

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[chellt]

Cast of Characters:

First up: Me- Michelle-otherwise known as, Aunt Chell, Miss T., DotDot...I wear many different hats!
I am a special ed/behavior teacher and I absolutely LOVE my job! I am also aunt to 10, yes count 'em, 10 nieces and nephews...

Next up: my sis-in-law - Kim- also a sped teacher and mom to my two fabulous nieces!

Next Up: My Niece Peyton (8), better known as PeyPey... PeyPey is my little thrill seeker. Loves all things creepy and scary. Willing to try anything. Loves adventure and challenge... Flips everywhere she goes! Still loves princesses and fairies, but if she had to choose, would MUCH rather be on a roller coaster! I can't wait to ride ToT with her!

And Next Up: My Niece Presley (5), better known as Izzy or Little Bit... An absolute Princess! 100% girlie girl. Hates anything the least bit scary. Loves all things princess, dress-up, and babies! Can't wait to take her to BBB and CRT! She is going to LOVE meeting all the Princesses and Fairies.

And Last BUT definately NOT least: Jake - Jake was my little brother...Daddy to Peyton and Presley...Husband to Kim.... Best guy in the world....Miss him like crazy....Our world will never be the same...I included him in this TR, because he is with us everywhere we go. He lives on through his girls. Peyton even asked if we could get one of those big cardboard cutouts of him to take with us on vacation. She still wants him to be in the family pictures... BAHHHH!!!!! What a sweetie!

 

[OhdahLolly]

Coming along for the ride!

So sorry for you loss.

It is wonderful that the girls have such a caring aunt in you.

 

[chellt]

We are now in the double digits!!! 99 days to go!!!! Woohoo!!!

 

[mrssmith06]

So sorry for your loss. It is so awesome of you to take his girls to Disney!

 

[Tea4Alice]

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm from tx and I also use to work with AB students as a para.

 

[chellt]

PAID IN FULL!!! WooHoo!!!

 

[tinytreasures]

So sorry for your loss. I am glad you there for your nieces and SIL. I can't wait to hear all your plans.
YAH for Paid in FULL

 

[chellt]

It's getting close and we are so excited!!!!

We will arrive pretty late on the 12th. Will probably have to take a dip in the pool before bed though.

We will spend our first day at Magic Kingdom. The crowd predictions or EMH didn't recommend this, but I just HAVE to take the girls to MK on our first day!! We will have breakfast at Park Fare, lunch at Crystal Palace and end out night at the WISHES Dessert Party. Gonna be a full day!!

The next day we will head for Epcot! We will have a late breakfast at Akershus and then go find all the princesses we can find!

Wednesday is Princess Day. We plan on being at MK at Rope Drop for the Rupunzel Meet and Greet. Then we have appointments at the BBB to transform into Belle and Rapunzel. Then lunch at CRT and dinner at Park Fare. This is the day we are most excited about!! And the only day we are going to try and stay in the park all day without a break...Can't hardly wait!!

The next day is Hollywood Studios. I know we should try to make rope drop for TSM, but I'm pretty sure we are gonna be wiped out from Princess Day...So we shall see. We have lunch ressies at Sci Fi and then plan on heading to DTD that evening. We will have dinner at T-Rex and then go home and fall into a coma.

Friday is Animal Kingdom. I am sooo excited about AK...Not sure why, most of what I read is negative, but i just am! I think maybe because I know Jake would have loved it. We will have an early breakfast at Tusker House and then head for Safari at rope drop! We have dinner ressies at Whispering Canyon.

Saturday we will return to MK and have breakfast at Chef Mickey's. I have feeling we will end up returning to the resort pretty early on this day.... We have dinner ressies at O'hanas. The one ADR that I am looking forward to! It just sounds delicious!

Our last morning we have ressies at O'hanas again. Sounds kinda silly to return there, but we have to see stitch!! Then it is off to the airport. I'd like to say I'll be sad to leave, but I am SURE I will be completely exhausted!! Hopefully the girls will pass out on the plane!

I'm pretty sure we won't make it to all of these...The Princess Day is the only thing that is an absolute must...Oh, and Akershus, because of Belle of course!![/COLOR]

 

[chellt]

20 more days!!!!!

 

[chellt]

9 more days! Not sure who is more excited, me or the girls!!!

 

[KatMark]

It's almost here!

 

[chellt]

One more sleep and then we will be there!!!!

 

[mysevendwarfs]

Have a wonderful trip! May the love your brother had for all of you surround you. How wonderful that you can spend this time with your nieces and sil. BTW, I loved the Wishes dessert party!

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

Have a fantastic trip - I can't wait to hear how it goes!

 

[chellt]

Oh, where do i begin!?! It was a fast, furious, fantastic week. So many memories were made...Can't wait to take my other nieces!

We arrived around 8:30 PM...We had checked in online so we breezed through the lobby, hopped on a cart and were on our way!

CSR was amazing! While I am tempted to say I want to try another resort, I can't wait to get back to CSR!

I paid for a waterview room and requested close to the DigSite.

We got Cabanas 8B and it was A.Ma.zing. 2 minutes to the DigSite, 2 minutes to the Quiet Pool, 2 minutes to the bus stop and 5-7 minutes to the main building... Couldn't have asked for a better spot!

We grabbed dinner to go from the Cafe and settled into the room.... Our first Disney Dining Experience was, well, disgusting... My burger was raw... The girls sandwiches were good, though.

Next up.... Breakfast with Alice-if we can find our way!!!

 

[chellt]

Day one started in absolute zeal.... We bounded out of bed knowing we had an early morning ADR at 1900 Park Fare. Our ADR was at 8:15 and we were at the bus stop at 7:15. We watched busses pull in for AK, Ep, HS...but no MK! Several busses came and went, but still no MK...at 7:45 we decided to take a cab....

Hmmmm, where are those cabs we had heard so much about??? Oh! They are at the FRONT! So off we go, took about 10 minutes to walk to the front. Got in a waiting cab and zoomed away with plenty of time to make our ressies (so said the cabby)! But, alas, our cabby was more interested in talking than paying attention and got lost. Yes. Lost!

We finally arrived (15 min late), but the nice lady said it was no problem..... Waited in a line for about ten minutes and then we went in...
The food was great... Typical breakfast buffet.
Characters and staff were wonderful... Saw Alice and others... Wonderful way to start....

Next stop....Magic Kingdom - for the first time ever!!!

 

[chellt]

Entering the MK and seeing the castle for the first time was breathtaking!! It was bustling, busy and noisy, but for a moment you honestly don't notice that .... you just stand and stare....

I teared up while taking the first pic (of many) of the girls in front of the castle... It broke my heart to see K and the girls standing in the "most magical place on earth" knowing I would give anything to have Jake in that picture with them... But I didn't have long to wallow, beacause we were off to the teacups!

We went fast and hard until 2:00. We accomplished everthing on our list that day!! We never waited more than 10 minutes for anything..... It was a wonderful first day....UNTIL...

The girls and K were getting in line for Snow White when I decided not to ride... She handed me her things and I stepped out of line. A man coming around the corner of the little shop never saw me (and I never saw him) and we collided. During the collision I dropped my sisnlaws new $2000 camera... I just sat down and cried..... Luckily nothing was terribly damaged....

But a feeling of dread engulfed me... Lost cabbies...Dropped cameras...Was this how this vacation was gonna go down???

Next up...Crystal Palace.