I enjoyed reading along and reliving your trip! You have such good perspective and a really good attitude considering the multiple things that didn't seem to go your way. Next year's trip will surely be a great one because for one, like you said, you learned so much on this trip. And your boys will be a little older and hopefully nobody will get sick, and your dad won't cause you to miss every rope drop!

Good luck getting WL, it's a really neat place to stay. We have stayed there twice (not DVC), and I've only got good things to say about it so I'm sure you all will love it. Happy planning!!!