The 4th Annual Father/Daughter Trip!

[DCpoohfan]

A family divided.

Two Disney lovers, two Disney haters. Two need to go every year, two have gone twice and swear they will never return. My brother is easy. He is 23 and wants nothing to do with a family trip that doesn't involve the words "all inclusive including alcohol." He'd rather stay home and work. Ok, go right ahead.

My mother is a different animal entirely. She doesn't want to set food in WDW. Ever again. But she has a BIG problem with getting left behind while my Dad and I go. "Why can't we go somewhere we all enjoy?" So we did. No Disney for us for many years.

Until 4 years ago, when my mother takes up the hobby, no, make that the passion, of hiking. A passion no one else in my family shares. So she decides to go on a hiking trip with a group of friends from chuch every September. If shes doing what she loves, how can she have a problem with us going to Disney? We can finally go back! And guilt-free to boot! And go back we did, and go back we've gone, for the last three years.

Up next, introducing the two main characters of the adventure, a brief history of our trips, and the official pre-trip for Father/Daughter Adventure '06!!

 

[OhMari]

Glad you finally got back. I am a big hiker also, but I love WDW over hiking. Does your mom do the appalachian trail by sections. That is my plan someday.

 

[DCpoohfan]

OhMari- I dont know if my moms done much of the Appalachin Trail. My parents live in the Poconos, so a lot of her hiking is around there, and around DC (Harpers Ferry, etc) when she visits me. Her yearly trips have been out West, Glacier a couple times, and Arches I think. This year shes going to Yosemite, to realize her dream of getting to the top of Half Dome. She has arthritis in her knees, but she's discovered the wonder drug cortisone, so she thinks she'll make it!

 

[DCpoohfan]

OK, here we go.

The main characters:
Dad: 56 years old. Lives about 4 hours from me in PA.
Me: Single, 25 years old. Went to college in DC, and in DC I stayed. I really look forward to these trips because I dont get to see my dad much. I'm a restaurant manager, so I apologize if my restaurant reviews get a little long, it's kind of my thing!

A brief history...
As I said earlier, we didnt get to go to WDW after the two obligatory childhood trips. When we planned the first Father/Daughter trip in Spetember 2003, I had just finished college, and was waiting tables. Which means I was loaded. Strange how things change when you get a salaried job. Anyway, for our first trip, my dad paid for flights, food, and park tickets, and I was responsible for the hotel room. I booked a 1 BR villa at the Beach Club. This will forever be the hotel gold standard for me. It was perfect. We're EPCOT people, as you will soon find out.

I thought that 2003 trip was a one-time thing. I was very suprised when in early 2004 my dad started talking about going back. The problem for me was that I recently started a management job, and was now broke. Flat broke. I wanted to go, but there was no way I could pay for the hotel. Or anything for that matter. Luckily, while I was going broke, my parents were finding they had more disposable income. I guess raising me was expensive or something. I'm glad theyre more comfortable now, they deserve it after the 18-plus year investements that were me an my brother. SO ANYWAY, my dad offered to pay for the whole trip, which he's done the past two years, staying at POFQ.

This year I'm finally doing a little bit better income-wise. We're staying at the Swan. We've always gone for 4 nights, but this year we're staying 5. I'm paying for the extra night in the hotel, the extra day in the parks, and the food for the extra day, plus my flight. Plus, I'm staying one extra night after my dad leaves. Because I can. I've never vacationed alone, not even for one night. We'll see how that goes!

Over the past few years, weve established a Daily Disney Routine, which goes something like this: Dad wakes up at an obscenely early hour and goes running. I meet him at a not-so-obscene hour, maybe around 8:30 and we head to the parks until early afternoon. Spend a couple of hours at the pool mid-afternoon. My dad sips some kind of amazing looking specialty drink. I don't, because I didn't get up early to run, so I get my run in instead. For the first day. Maybe. Then I stop trying to resist the siren song of the pool bar. I'm on vacation after all! After our time at the pool and my rum (I mean ruN, ruN I say!) we clean up, go out for nice dinner somewhere and then find a place to watch our beloved New York Yankees. We always seem to be in WDW while the Yankees are playing the Red Sox, so we watch the game, then head home disecting the victory or discussing how hard it would be to get David Ortiz deported. Depending on the outcome of the game.

Rinse and repeat, every day, every year.

This year is a little different. Because the Yankees are playing the Orioles instead of the Red Sox. We'll have to think of something new to talk about on the way home.

Otherwise, we're all set. We leave Tuesday the 5th. My dad returns on the 10th, me on the 11th. My flight leave Baltimore at 9:30 AM Tuesday. Staying at the Swan. ADRs are made: lunch at Sci-Fi, dinners at Jiko, LeCellier, Rose & Crown, and House of Blues. One night is still open. Alas, no free dining for us. I'm guessing we wont have any trouble walking in to a restaurant that doesn't take the dining plan on the one open night.

So let's get to packing! Father/Daughter '06 is off and running in t-minus 48 hours!

 

[DCpoohfan]

One thing, relating to the Daily Disney Routine (DDR) that I forgot to mention. My dad has to ride the boat in Mexico daily. I'm not sure why. I don't think he even knows why. So bad it's good or something like that. But this is a hard and fast rule, and I think I've inherited it. My boyfriend and I were in WDW for 8 nights in February, and I made him go on it 5 times. Not quite daily but still. And I think they know me now in Mexico. The Disney Mexico that is. I was buying something in the Marketplace there last year the Plaza del Whatever, and the cashier said to me: "Do you know we have a boat ride right over there? Have you been on it?" with a big smile. The other ashiers all stopped what they were doing to smile at us too. Maybe I'm paranoid about my habit, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure she was making fun of me.

 

[Glendamax]

Hope you have a great time! Hope you started packing! Have fun in Mexico!