Well thank you, thank you all for reading. It has been so fun to do this and I am going to print it all off and save it. Grumpy thinks the whole idea of writing a trip report so that strangers can sit and read it is absolutely bizarre. I tell him each night "Hey, guess how many page views I got?" and he rolls his eyes at me. He doesn't get it. He doesn't get that it is fun to read other people's stories, especially when your own next trip isn't for a while. I told him I was going to print it out and read it to him (he has never read a word of it) and he said he's humor me and let me do that.
Anyway, closing thoughts? It was all I had hoped it would be and then some. Some things were not what I had envisioned, namely the reveal, but I love the way it happened. It is my family and their unique way of reacting. I will treasure that video forever and Belle gets a kick now I think out of the fact that I have told her many strangers have watched that and laughed. Side note, we did send it in to AFV and they say it can take 3 months to hear back from them so keep those fingers crossed. We decided if we do somehow make it there and win some $$$ it is of course going to pay for another Disney trip!
But really all the planning and dreaming all year culminated in a near perfect trip. We had so much fun. Being at Disney at Christmas time is worth doing, all the decorations, the feel, just great. Do it at least once.
Booking with Jessica at The Magic For Less another good thing. She was fantastic and friendly and when she saved me that $460 in August well I wanted to hug her! I would, and will, use her services again.
Pop Century, really fun! Would I like to stay at a Deluxe? Heck yeah but Pop was clean, fun, friendly CMs and great bus service. It worked for the budget and worked for us.
Dining Plan, another yes. Loved it. If you love to eat and TS are a part of your regular vacationing than you can't go wrong.
Did the kids love it? Dumb question right? Yes of course, they talk about it ALL THE TIME. Whenever anyone asks Goofy if he went to Disney World he responds with "Yes and I went on Tower of Terror!" and then starts listing about every other ride we went on too and the person starts wishing they didn't ask. He brought his autograph book to Story Time at the library and showed Miss Rosemary our librarian each and every signature. Being a gem she stuck with him through the whole book. So yes, this trip meant something to them and I know they will remember it always. They "got" that Disney was different, that it was special, that it was magical!
How about Grumpy you ask? Well. He kept his promise to me and did not gripe all week. Actually if asked he will tell you it was good. He had a better time than he thought he would. The kids behaviour was way better than he was anticipating. The lines were way shorter than he was expecting and he thanked me for my hours of planning. What he didn't like? Feeling like he could lose a kid in the crowds. When you are walking down Main Street and it is crowded, even more so at night in the dark, and you have to hold hands and just constantly be sure you don't lose someone. That was stressful for him and he just didn't like always worrying about keeping track of the kids. He told me he would consider going back when they were older, like maybe 13/11/8. He also told me that he would see no need to go back really anytime sooner since we saw most of everything we wanted to on this trip.
See, he doesn't get it. He doesn't get that you can go back and see the same things a year later (or even sooner) and you'll see something new in it or experience it in a different way or heck just enjoy it again. So I didn't convert him but the fact that he said he would go back, just down the road, was a start. At least he didn't say he never wanted to go back right?
So, when is the next trip and who is going? Well from the ticker you can probably figure out it is just the kids and I. Am I crazy? Somedays I think I am! We are planning on next March. I am thinking March 6-12, 2008. I emailed Jessica 2 days after we got home in December and asked her about it. She told me the best thing would be to sit tight till the 2008 rates come out and book our package then. So we wait.
Why is it just us? Well aside from Grumpy not wanting to go back so soon it so happens that every March Grumpy takes a trip with work. He works for a boarding school and they take a group of kids each March somewhere different and exotic. And they go for anywhere from 14-18 days. Yes, that is a long time to be left single momming it. I have grown to hate March. He is gone so long and often to places with either bad phone service or horrible time differences so we can't always talk each day (ever since our first date in 1993 we did not go a day without speaking, until his first time on one of these trips in 2004 and phone service in Thailand crushed our record). I always worry that he is either going to be eaten by some animal or fall off a cliff on one of these trips. They tend to go off the beaten path and really see the country and the culture. These trips are not staying at the Hyatt and travelling by air conditioned motor coach. Anyway, once he is home with the stories and pictures and trinkets it is all good but while he is gone the kids and I are left to fend for ourselves and we miss him terribly. They are all very close to their Dad and I remember one time he was leaving and I walked into my bathroom to find he and Belle embracing and both in tears.
My point, we all hate March. So we decided what better time to go to the World again? Grumpy will be on one of his trips to who knows where (this March it is 17 days in Vietnam) and so instead of being home, mopey and sad, we will plan our trip to be gone the same time he is. That will give us something to look forward to instead of dread and we can go have some fun too.
They will be 10,8 and 5 at trip time so I know I can do this. I am a little nervous though, being the only adult. But I know Belle will be helpful and Goofy a little older too. The best thing in the world would be a massive growth spurt for Goofy. If he could hit 48 inches that would be great but I won't hold my breath. He is only 41 now. We'll just cross that bridge when we come to it and I think if I give Belle a cell phone she and Bashful could ride say, EE, and Goofy and I could wait at the exit. Otherwise aside from a few rides we can do all the other things together and I think we'll have a great time.
So, that is it, that's all, there is no more. It was fantastic and I hope the next trip is as memorable too. Come next February I'll be sure to start a pre-trippie and hope you'll come ablong for the ride again. Till then I am off to find some other Trippies to tag along with while I pass the time.
MIC
See you real soon
KEY
Why? Because
I like you!
MOUSE!
See you soon faithful readers!
and 2 other adults. An 18 day trip. Ugh. Now you see why my ticker says the kids and I are going in a year. We are NOT doing this again, being left home this long stinks. Next year while he is off who knows where, we'll be visiting the Mouse.
Allyson, I'm so glad that we are having a "snow day" here in NJ...I found your report last night and stayed up until 1:30 in the morning reading!
I wasn't sure I would post a pre and post report but yours made me really want to! Although, I don't think I'll be able to write as well as you did! Thanks so much! We are going in August-our kids first time! Good luck with AFV!
) but he still has a large amount of family there.
His older siblings went to Northbridge but he was the trailer by many many years and by that time WCS was open and doing high school. Interestingly my father who is into his 80s is also from Whitinsville. It's a scary thing how that tiny town can have so many connections elsewhere!
