It’s time I introduced everyone. Although this is an adult only trip, I will still introduce the kids – purely to get the chance to tell you all about them
DH – Fred –The love of my life. He tells me he won the lottery of life the day he met me but I know it was the other way around. He indulges me in my Disney vacation obsession, goes along with my plans and puts up with my compulsive over-planning and incessant worrying. He doesn’t ‘get’ it (I think you either do or you don’t and I don’t think he ever will) but he enjoys himself when we’re there, which is good enough for me.
Me – Wilma – Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to go to Disney World. Our family didn’t take vacations. They were only for rich people. I never thought I would ever get to go – and, here I am, planning my 5th trip. I am truly lucky. I have a tendency to worry and fret. Fred says I’m at my happiest when I have something to worry about - that’s not true. I’m at my happiest when I’m planning a trip to Disney. I suffer terribly with post-trip depression and I never quite recover until I’ve booked again. But I’ve found a cure for that – it’s called having a trip ‘in hand’ – always be in the process of planning the next trip before you return from the current one.
So, that is me and Fred – and here we are in the ‘flesh’
If we look a little drunk in the picture, it’s because we are. It was taken at Jellyrolls on DH’s 40th Birthday trip. A good time was had by all that night
There are some other people who will feature heavily in this trip report (either in person or in spirit).
Firstly, the other 3 loves of my life – the kids:
DD1 – Sian - A 13 year-old walking and talking (well, grunting) teenager. Larger than life - and just as hormonal. In all seriousness, she is a great girl and a real help to me when it comes to looking after offspring number 3. She loves Disney but is getting to that age where it might not be considered cool – so she’s all about High school Musical and Hannah Montana rather than Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. But I think she secretly still loves it all.
DD2 – Rhiannon - A 12 year old version of my Dad. DD2 is the original wind-up merchant. Being in the same room as her and my Dad is beyond annoying – they are like a pair of kids, poking at each other and bickering. She is definitely the quieter of the two, though, and loves nothing more than drawing – she is a dab hand at drawing the Disney characters – and tormenting the cat. Does anyone know if it’s possible to love a cat to death???
DS – Daniel - A 4 year old whirlwind. His mouth doesn’t stop moving from morning until night – and, I swear, he talks in is sleep. He can go from 0 to devil in less than 60 seconds, but can go from devil to angel just as quickly. There isn’t a day goes by that he doesn’t have DH and I doubled up with laughter at his antics. He can’t wait until his first trip to ‘the Merica’ and Disney World, where he is going to meet Mickey Mouse, go to Epricot (?!), go on the yeti coaster and have ice cream and cake for breakfast. Oh, and most importantly, ride Splash Mountain.
Although the kids are staying behind this year, we plan to take them to WDW in April 2008 and I can’t wait for our first ever family holiday. But, for now, it’s all about the adults – the kids have their own plans and, apparently, they don’t include us. The girls are excited to be going to stay with their Grandma, who will indulge them, not make them go to bed at 9 o’clock every night and let them eat what they like. And, as for DS – he will be wearing out the in-laws, who will do much the same as the girls’ Grandma except for the bed thing – even if you let DS stay up past 6:30, he would be begging to be allowed to go to bed. He is definitely not a night owl.
Next up we have the co-stars. But first, allow me to indulge in a little past history.
Flashback: I found and joined the DIS back in 2004, shortly before my first trip to WDW. Unfortunately, I was more of a lurker than a poster and the next time I ventured back in July 2005, I had forgotten my original login details. So I re-registered and started again. This time, I threw myself into it with gusto. I started posting a lot more on the UK Community Boards. Fast forward to March 2006 and a fellow UK DISer suggested a DIS meet in the South West. That is where we are from but, at the time, we were living in Northern Ireland. Not a problem – we’ll just fly back and spend the weekend at my Dad’s, go along to the DIS meet and get to know some of these ‘internet freaks’ (my DH’s term for my fellow DIS friends). So, I went to the meet and met some lovely people. Since that first meet, we have been lucky enough to meet several DISers and I now feel privileged to be able to call some of them ‘friends’. I must also add that, now he has got to know them, DH no longer considers them to be internet freaks – just freaks!!
Back to the present day and, when DH and I were planning this trip for August, we realised that some of our DIS friends would be in the World at the same time. What a bonus! All too soon, we had made some plans to meet up and indulge in one of our favourite pastimes – drinking! So, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to:
Deb and Matt – When I first met Deb, I knew straight away that we would get on. She is glamorous and vivacious, with an infectious personality. She has been an absolute star over the last couple of weeks, allowing me to talk her ear off about ADRs, flights, APs, car rental and just about anything else you can think of. Matt, her DH, is a real character. He has a dry sense of humour and a witty response for just about any situation. They are a great couple and excellent company.
Kev and Tam – Kev is the life and soul of the party. Another one with a wicked sense of humour, he and Matt are an excellent double act. Tam is elegant, glamorous and very much makes me feel like the ‘ugly sister’ to her Cinderella. She is an excellent cook and well renowned for her creative use of Brussels sprouts.
India and Georgia – Kev and Tam’s daughters, India and Georgia are well-mannered, polite and mature. They are the kind of kids who make your own look badly behaved without even trying. I tell myself that they’re probably as hormonal and bad-tempered as mine behind closed doors – it makes me feel better
Here we all are – this picture was taken at our house last August
Coming next: To AP or not to AP and ‘Just how hot is August really?’
So now we know, it sounds fab Joh, you have a new experience for gary with DCL, variety of resort and a freebie thrown in, very good indeed
Actually remember nearly passing out at DTD last August, was about 1pm and i didn't think i was going to make it to the bus stop, but it sounds like you are aware already of some of this, will wait to see what you post now I have so rudely jumped in ahead of you, sorry
You sound soooo much like me! Your Get your own way eventually method is classic - every step has been used by me at one point or another! LOL! 
