Shadoe's Pre-Trip Report

[Shadoe1031]

I'm sitting at work last week, covertly creating a Disney Countdown Calendar, realizing, hey, I should make a pre-trip report for my newest adventure-to-be. So here we go!

 

[Shadoe1031]

Forty-five days from now I will be getting off a plane at MCO to go back to one of my most favorite-est places on earth – WDW!



As a child, I knew WDW existed, mostly due to commercials that asked a celebrity what they were going to do next, and of course the answer was “I’m going to Disney World”! However, I never went to WDW as a child. I went to Baltimore, MD; Glacier National Park twice, Seattle, WA; and cruised up the Inside Passage in Alaska before I even thought about a trip to Florida or WDW.



Then in 1999, I had an opportunity to spend a week in Florida, practically for free, with one of my bestest friends. We spent a very exciting week in San Antonio, the highlight of which was being introduced to the Magic Kingdom with my bestest friend and a guy who has become another of my bestest friends (I have three!)



That one magical day five and a half years ago made it’s mark on me. I am now a Disney addict. Since then I have been to WDW six times and made one trip to Disneyland (Just to hold me over until I could get back to WDW).



My most recent trip was in February 2005. When we were there I has resigned myself to this being my last trip to WDW for a while due to finances. So I enjoyed my ride (I was confined to a wheelchair because I was silly and have feet that do not communicate with the rest of me) around the World. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shadoe1031/detail?.dir=/ba6f&.dnm=9ade.jpg&.src=ph

My live-in bf crashed his car in May and received $6,000.00 from his insurance company. He has bought me a digital camera, and splurged on himself with a dv camcorder and a new pc! He looked at me in June, “maybe we should start planning our next trip to WDW”...



Okay, so then I began the extensive planning process that precedes every single trip that I take to WDW. I’m sure that I make it into a much larger project than necessary, but in my mind, planning the trip is the next best thing to being there.



So, I sat my bf down in front of the WDW website and we looked at the calendar and resorts. He thought it would be nice to go down in October. I shook my head, I had already been to WDW for my birthday (10/31). I thought that December would be a much nicer time to visit, having never seen WDW dressed up for the holidays.



So it was settled, we were going the beginning of December. Then we decided that POR was our first choice for a resort, with CSR coming in a close second. I contacted Cathy, my awesome travel agent, and began making the arrangements. We discovered that if we stayed an additional 18 hours, we could save over $200.00 on airfare, and that POR was unavailable (I found out later about Pop Warner Week). I was content. CSR was actually my first choice, but I wanted my bf to choose what he would like.



We purchased AP’s, thereby enabling us to good rates at the resort, and tickets to the MVMCP for December 6th.



Last week I made my ADR’s for LTT, CP, CM, ‘Ohana and 50’s PTC, and made ressies at a motel off-property for Night 1 and Night 10. We arrive at MCO at 10:35 p.m. an leave MCO at 7:55 a.m. Neither of these nights was it worth it to me to be on-property.



So, now with just 45 days, I’m getting more and more excited every moment!

 

[fizz13]

So excited for you!! CSR looks like a beautiful resort and I can't wait to stay there next year. You are lucky to have a BF who feels the magic too. Have a great time and good eating (those are great ADR's),

Claire xx

 

[Shadoe1031]

Thirty days from now.....

*sigh* It's so close, but it also seems so far away! I was home sick today, so I was going over all of my plans. I think I have everything planned.

I printed out envelopes with Christmas Disney clipart on them for the tips for mousekeeping and bell services, that I can fill before we leave. I've run out of money before and not had enough for a tip for the last day!

My bf and I had made lists of the attractions that we would like to see/do while we are there, so I typed that up and put it in my Passporter.

My b'day was just a few days ago and my dm got me a new camera bag that is a backpack! I transferred my two slr's (one 35mm and one digital) to my new bag, and I tried to find all my digital's accessories. That's gonna take a little bit long to accomplish.

So, I figure that one month from right now, I'll be in a plane flying down the east coast to Orlando.

*sigh*

and so the countdown continues.....

 

[Shadoe1031]

I know it's been a bad few days when I haven't even been able to get excited about going to WDW. Usually every night when my bf gets in the car, I say "Tell me about Disney", and that's his cue to tell me everything he can remember or wants to do in a particular area. I haven't said that since the beginning of last week.

Tuesday was Election Day. This year it was particularly stressful because the incumbent 1st Selectman wasn't running. This meant that we were getting a new boss no matter what! Luckily, the "good guy" won, for which I am eternally grateful, and I know that my mom will still be able to take the time to pick us up at the airport.

Thursday afternoon, my best friends dad died. He had cancer that was so wide-spread when he was diagnosed, that they never really named what kind of cancer it was. That was a month ago. So I spent Thursday night crying. He was a dad to me too.

Friday, I got hurt while I was sleeping! Did you know it takes a very talented person to get injured while sound asleep? Well, I managed to do it. I woke up to a stabbing pain in my eyeball, so I took my contacts out (I wear them for naps) and I guess during the process, I scratched my cornea. I spent a couple of hours at the emergency clinic. So, now I can't wear for contacts for a while, and I have stupid, stinging drops to put in four times a day.

Today, is the calling hours for my friends father, for five hours. And tomorrow is the funeral. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back on Disney Track, especially since I only have a few more weeks to get everything ready for my trip and for Christmas.

Thank you for reading my babbling!

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your pre-trip reports ~ Can't wait to read more.

 

[fabumouse]

What fun - hope it's the best trip ever!

 

[dandee00]

Things will get better and you'll get back into Disney!
Sorry to hear about your loss. And I hope your eye gets better soon!
Sending pixie dust!!!

 

[Shadoe1031]

Things will get better and you'll get back into Disney!
Sorry to hear about your loss. And I hope your eye gets better soon!
Sending pixie dust!!!

Thank you! My eye is getting better every day. And the thought that Disney is only 16 days away is helping me deal with everything else in my life right now. I'll be glad to escape from here! It's only too bad that I can't help my bf, her daughter and mother escape with me too!

And the countdown continues....

 

[dandee00]

Thank you! My eye is getting better every day. And the thought that Disney is only 16 days away is helping me deal with everything else in my life right now. I'll be glad to escape from here! It's only too bad that I can't help my bf, her daughter and mother escape with me too!

And the countdown continues....

Maybe someday they'll go to Disney too.
The next 2 weeks will (hopefully) go by quickly for you. I'm looking forward to your trip report.

 

[fizz13]

So sorry about the bad news. Its ok not to be disney-hyped all the time, sometimes your brain just wipes out from overload. trust me, it will all flood back the minute you touch down at MCO at the latest

You've planned so well and you will have a fantastic trip. Of course we want to hear all about it,
Claire xx

 

[Shadoe1031]

Ten days, ten days, ten whole days and then we fly away! I'm so excited. Every day Mark sends me a text message asking for the countdown. And then I get excited at work, and go around announcing the countdown. My boss asked for the hours, and then the minutes until I was leaving. I don't think he actually thought that I would figure it out.... but I did.

*sigh* So excited.....

 

[Dismom+two]

I'm so excited for you! I have 155 days before MY trip! I'm looking forward to your report when you get back!

Brenda

 

[Shadoe1031]

You know that you are way too excited about your trip to Disney World when



· You can’t tell your boss the name of the guy who just called him, but are able to tell him exactly what clothes are packed in your suitcase.

· Your boyfriend (and fellow traveler) sends you a text message with the exact countdown, including hours.

· You know more about your Disney Trip than you do about the meeting you need to attend in three hours.

· Can quote exact times for your flights and ADR’s, but haven’t a clue what time your physical therapy appointment is tomorrow.

· You get so wrapped up reading about others trips to Disney that you forget to go pick up your boyfriend!



Ooops, gotta go!

 

[dandee00]

You know that you are way too excited about your trip to Disney World when



· You can’t tell your boss the name of the guy who just called him, but are able to tell him exactly what clothes are packed in your suitcase.

· Your boyfriend (and fellow traveler) sends you a text message with the exact countdown, including hours.

· You know more about your Disney Trip than you do about the meeting you need to attend in three hours.

· Can quote exact times for your flights and ADR’s, but haven’t a clue what time your physical therapy appointment is tomorrow.

· You get so wrapped up reading about others trips to Disney that you forget to go pick up your boyfriend!



Ooops, gotta go!

I'm soooo excited for you!!!
I'm looking forward to reading your trip report.
Oh, and there's no such thing as being TOO excited for a trip to Disney.

 

[Shadoe1031]

Okay, this is it! 24 hours from now I will be on an airplane somewhere above the east coast, heading to Orlando. I've packed. I've packed my boyfriends' stuff. I've cleaned the house mostly (my house-sitter is an absolute neat freak). I'm cuddled with the doggies. I think I'm almost already to go!

So, next time you hear from me, it will be sad. I'll be writing my trip report. My trip will be all over, but it means that I can begin scrapping it!

Well, TTFN.

 

[dandee00]

Have a great trip!!!