raspberrysharpei
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2006
- Messages
- 61
Disclaimer: I am a huge rookie at this & some what apprehensive to put myself out there....having said that, I want to share some of our experiences (I think this might be my therapy) and thank everyone for participating in this wonderful world of discussion boards---I have discovered a world of help and support.
Here goes, the cast first:
Dsis1--(34) Married, no children, type A personality, avid traveler, day trip visit to WDW in '97. Husband declines to attend this adventure.
Oh, you should know I like nice things & I'm a tight wad.
Dsis2--(30) Single mother of two, type A personality, never travels, terrified to fly (we cured that) & has some limiting medical conditions.
Dniece--(11) First trip to WDW, has traveled via car for summer vacations with Dsis1 before. Has most Disney movies. Good kid, spoiled & loves to shop.
Dnephew--(4.5) First trip anywhere, kind-of oblivious to the whole thing, raised on Nickelodeon more than Disney. Mommas boy.
So mid-summer vacation from school & Aunt DEE (that's me) is trying to find the right type of vacation for the kids. Dnephew is finally old enough to do something with Dniece, & last year wasn't good with the loss of my father. I looked at local attractions, but nothing seemed to float my boat. Why not Walt Disney World? All children deserve to have memories of the most magical place on earth, right? I do. Okay it was Disneyland, but that counts for something. Dad would be proud that I would take the family on a vacation they could not afford on their own, sometimes it is better to give than receive.
So the discussions with Dsis2 begin. She is very apprehensive. First I have to reassure her that I will cover the costs. Not easy to do with all that pride she has-but how could she turn down a trip like this?? IT IS for the kids, life time memories, & dad did promise Dniece a trip to WDW....
Okay next catch, we ARE NOT driving. Get over this weird fear of flying, no way am I spending 1000 miles in a car (coming from the mid-west) to drive to Orlando. Been there, done that, not going back. In two hours we can be on vacation, plus I have perks with my airline carrier & will only have to pay for two tickets out of pocket.
So for grins & giggles (okay more like comparative shopping) I give the local travel agent a call. Yeah, my dates are flexible, five nights & tickets to WDW. HOW MUCH?? Your kidding right? Is that all-inclusive?? Meals extra...dining plan?? HUH? Park Hopping?? Water parks?? All extra?? I pay a lot less for longer in the Caribbean during high season (uh yeah, all-inclusive). I had NO IDEA WDW was this intense & detailed, clueless.
Thanks for your time, I'm going to do this one on my own.
So off to the book store I go...I read up on ALL my vacation destinations
1st book: Unofficial Guide to WDW. 2nd book: WDW with kids. I abused the Unofficial guide, I could not get my nose out of it, plus that's how I found the DIS.
I know I had to be close to finding the end of the Internet, day & night.
Having flexible travel dates the best airfare came out to be from Thursday (8/10) to Tuesday (8/15).
Best value for hotel: DTD DoubleTree, Shades of Green was booked, that would have been my first choice.
The plan was coming together in my head & on paper. Dsis2 says the kids want to do a water park & would like to visit Sea World. Okay great, this helps me with planning how many tickets to buy.
So after more I decide three days of tickets at WDW, one day at Discovery Cove which gave us seven day passes to SW (great option for our two travel days). Four full days of attractions & two half days at SW. Perfect, not too commando but just enough.
Next installment will be perfect planning--wrong time of year.
Here goes, the cast first:
Dsis1--(34) Married, no children, type A personality, avid traveler, day trip visit to WDW in '97. Husband declines to attend this adventure.
Oh, you should know I like nice things & I'm a tight wad.
Dsis2--(30) Single mother of two, type A personality, never travels, terrified to fly (we cured that) & has some limiting medical conditions.
Dniece--(11) First trip to WDW, has traveled via car for summer vacations with Dsis1 before. Has most Disney movies. Good kid, spoiled & loves to shop.
Dnephew--(4.5) First trip anywhere, kind-of oblivious to the whole thing, raised on Nickelodeon more than Disney. Mommas boy.
So mid-summer vacation from school & Aunt DEE (that's me) is trying to find the right type of vacation for the kids. Dnephew is finally old enough to do something with Dniece, & last year wasn't good with the loss of my father. I looked at local attractions, but nothing seemed to float my boat. Why not Walt Disney World? All children deserve to have memories of the most magical place on earth, right? I do. Okay it was Disneyland, but that counts for something. Dad would be proud that I would take the family on a vacation they could not afford on their own, sometimes it is better to give than receive.
So the discussions with Dsis2 begin. She is very apprehensive. First I have to reassure her that I will cover the costs. Not easy to do with all that pride she has-but how could she turn down a trip like this?? IT IS for the kids, life time memories, & dad did promise Dniece a trip to WDW....
Okay next catch, we ARE NOT driving. Get over this weird fear of flying, no way am I spending 1000 miles in a car (coming from the mid-west) to drive to Orlando. Been there, done that, not going back. In two hours we can be on vacation, plus I have perks with my airline carrier & will only have to pay for two tickets out of pocket.
So for grins & giggles (okay more like comparative shopping) I give the local travel agent a call. Yeah, my dates are flexible, five nights & tickets to WDW. HOW MUCH?? Your kidding right? Is that all-inclusive?? Meals extra...dining plan?? HUH? Park Hopping?? Water parks?? All extra?? I pay a lot less for longer in the Caribbean during high season (uh yeah, all-inclusive). I had NO IDEA WDW was this intense & detailed, clueless.
Thanks for your time, I'm going to do this one on my own.
So off to the book store I go...I read up on ALL my vacation destinations
1st book: Unofficial Guide to WDW. 2nd book: WDW with kids. I abused the Unofficial guide, I could not get my nose out of it, plus that's how I found the DIS.
I know I had to be close to finding the end of the Internet, day & night.
Having flexible travel dates the best airfare came out to be from Thursday (8/10) to Tuesday (8/15).
Best value for hotel: DTD DoubleTree, Shades of Green was booked, that would have been my first choice.
The plan was coming together in my head & on paper. Dsis2 says the kids want to do a water park & would like to visit Sea World. Okay great, this helps me with planning how many tickets to buy.
So after more
I decide three days of tickets at WDW, one day at Discovery Cove which gave us seven day passes to SW (great option for our two travel days). Four full days of attractions & two half days at SW. Perfect, not too commando but just enough.Next installment will be perfect planning--wrong time of year.
