Cast:
Me- Mom extraordinare and organization freak. I've been planning since we got home last time.
DH- Wasn't sure about Disney till we were there, now loves it. But wanted to wait till we were debt free.
DD- 8 yr old enthusiastic, energetic kid, turning 9 during trip.
The Story
We last visited the Temple of the Great Mouse back in December of 2005. This was our first trip and DH figured probably our only trip at the price we were paying. We went to celebrate paying off the last of our credit cards and everything but the mortgage. This was really our first real family vacation where we just went and had fun and didn't do a time share presentation, or visit family.
We went and had the best time ever. DH said he couldn't wait to go back and said once we pay off the mortgage we could go back. (Probably about 2010 at the rate we were going) So I wined and complained but DH said after the mortgage. So I got back on my budget and have been working hard to manage our money and make the most of what we have. Now since the economy has slowed we didn't get those really nice bonuses that I've been throwing at the mortgage so our trip looked to be getting farther and farther away.
Now fast forward to this summer. DH has been working hard on a project. Working crazy hours and on top of that we do a lot of volunteer work. We teach karate on a volunteer basis twice a week. We help out at church at least twice a week. We keep very busy and with DH's job keeping him even busier DH was burning out. So when he did manage to get a raise this spring we started talking about what to do with the extra money. DH said to put it on the mortgage. But I thought we might want to use it for other things. I was thinking use the money to go visit our family up in Canada. It had been 2 years since our last visit. Might also get some karate practice in while we were there. So I casually suggest one day while driving DH to work that we use the money for a vacation. DH said sure, but If we are to take a vacation we should go back to Disney.
SHOCK!! DH saying go back to Disney.
So talk was all about the upcoming free dining promo. We had done the DDP last time and had enjoyed it. So I started to pull together numbers and prices and where we would stay, and for how long. I calculated how much I would have saved up by September to determine my budget. I discovered we could afford a bit more than last time. My plans started out 1 week, then 1 week with 2 weekends, then went to 11 nights. We ended up going the AS Movies, 11 nights with 10 day PH's and free dining. DH was impressed with the savings this got us, and we could even celebrate DD's birthday with style. DH checked with work and got approval to take the time off. There was some question as to when his project was to be completed, the finally set the date of sept 15. We booked sept 19 to 30.
Now I started looking for airfare. I'm not big on flying so I prefer a direct flight, and the closest airport with direct flights was Kansas City with Southwest or Airtran. My goal was to pay about $200/person and kept my eyes open but waited as DH's work was behind schedule. So after more research and finding out I could book southwest and wouldn't have fees to cancel or change flights I went ahead and booked. I ended up paying $650 for the 3 of us.
Now we were set to go. I had made my dining reservations. Managed to secure a late lunch on my DD's birthday at Le Celier (her choice). Of course I've changed some of them a time or 2. I've got some other surprised booked for my DD's birthday as well. In the midst of all my planning one day my husband casually says you know we should make this an annual thing.
SHOCK!! I almost fall over. My DH saying we should do Disney every year. I hope it happens but at the same time I'm happy with every other year for now.
Life kept going along and I continued planning. DH's work project continued to fall behind schedule. To make up time DH worked Saturdays. My parents decided to give us an old car (92 Nissan Axxess) so it was decided rather than them driving down then flying home, DD and I would fly up and then drive home. This way DH wouldn't feel so bad about all the hours of work he was doing and not being with us. Hopefully he would be able to focus and get back on schedule. So DD and spent 3 weeks away visiting with my family and his and then driving home. DH got back on schedule then found more problems and was behind schedule and then was back on schedule.
I got home and got ready for the upcoming school year. After much thought we dropped our DD from the Virtual School and decided to Homeschool. So I pulled together a curriculum and planned for the year. This would work out better for us as we wouldn't have to miss school for our vacation, we can do school around our vacation. And Disney is educational.
As we approached the 45 day mark DH was again behind schedule and our trip was up in the air. Finally DH met with his boss and asked if we could still go or would we need to cancel. DH's Boss said it would be better to cancel. DH called me and I started to look and see what I would need to do to cancel everything. I told DD.
I didn't want to cancel the trip. It was no fair. Then DH called back. His Boss's Boss had heard about the situation. His response was No (Insert Adjective) way were we to cancel our trip. We were going. They would just have to work around our plans. YAY!! It was one roller coaster of a day. Ultimates low to ultimate high. And since it was from higher up there was no going back on the word.
So as I write this we are only 22 days away from Disney and 21 days away from leaving for Kansas City. Only 3 weeks. I booked a park and sleep package at the hotel next to the airport. Cost me $125 and parking would have been about $100 so it was worth it. I've made a few more changes to out plans and added the WP&M to our tickets. We will go to the Water Park on our arrival day. I bought my MNSSHP tickets for Sept 28th. I've got my box of stuff to pack full and made sure we had enough clothes for our trip. Bought DH a new pair of crocs, bought my self some sandals, DD got a pair of fake crocs. DD and I plan on buying some Disney Crocs while we are there.
And thats the end of my story for now. I'm sure there is more to come.
Me- Mom extraordinare and organization freak. I've been planning since we got home last time.
DH- Wasn't sure about Disney till we were there, now loves it. But wanted to wait till we were debt free.
DD- 8 yr old enthusiastic, energetic kid, turning 9 during trip.
The Story
We last visited the Temple of the Great Mouse back in December of 2005. This was our first trip and DH figured probably our only trip at the price we were paying. We went to celebrate paying off the last of our credit cards and everything but the mortgage. This was really our first real family vacation where we just went and had fun and didn't do a time share presentation, or visit family.
We went and had the best time ever. DH said he couldn't wait to go back and said once we pay off the mortgage we could go back. (Probably about 2010 at the rate we were going) So I wined and complained but DH said after the mortgage. So I got back on my budget and have been working hard to manage our money and make the most of what we have. Now since the economy has slowed we didn't get those really nice bonuses that I've been throwing at the mortgage so our trip looked to be getting farther and farther away.
Now fast forward to this summer. DH has been working hard on a project. Working crazy hours and on top of that we do a lot of volunteer work. We teach karate on a volunteer basis twice a week. We help out at church at least twice a week. We keep very busy and with DH's job keeping him even busier DH was burning out. So when he did manage to get a raise this spring we started talking about what to do with the extra money. DH said to put it on the mortgage. But I thought we might want to use it for other things. I was thinking use the money to go visit our family up in Canada. It had been 2 years since our last visit. Might also get some karate practice in while we were there. So I casually suggest one day while driving DH to work that we use the money for a vacation. DH said sure, but If we are to take a vacation we should go back to Disney.
SHOCK!! DH saying go back to Disney. So talk was all about the upcoming free dining promo. We had done the DDP last time and had enjoyed it. So I started to pull together numbers and prices and where we would stay, and for how long. I calculated how much I would have saved up by September to determine my budget. I discovered we could afford a bit more than last time. My plans started out 1 week, then 1 week with 2 weekends, then went to 11 nights. We ended up going the AS Movies, 11 nights with 10 day PH's and free dining. DH was impressed with the savings this got us, and we could even celebrate DD's birthday with style. DH checked with work and got approval to take the time off. There was some question as to when his project was to be completed, the finally set the date of sept 15. We booked sept 19 to 30.
Now I started looking for airfare. I'm not big on flying so I prefer a direct flight, and the closest airport with direct flights was Kansas City with Southwest or Airtran. My goal was to pay about $200/person and kept my eyes open but waited as DH's work was behind schedule. So after more research and finding out I could book southwest and wouldn't have fees to cancel or change flights I went ahead and booked. I ended up paying $650 for the 3 of us.
Now we were set to go. I had made my dining reservations. Managed to secure a late lunch on my DD's birthday at Le Celier (her choice). Of course I've changed some of them a time or 2. I've got some other surprised booked for my DD's birthday as well. In the midst of all my planning one day my husband casually says you know we should make this an annual thing.
SHOCK!! I almost fall over. My DH saying we should do Disney every year. I hope it happens but at the same time I'm happy with every other year for now. Life kept going along and I continued planning. DH's work project continued to fall behind schedule. To make up time DH worked Saturdays. My parents decided to give us an old car (92 Nissan Axxess) so it was decided rather than them driving down then flying home, DD and I would fly up and then drive home. This way DH wouldn't feel so bad about all the hours of work he was doing and not being with us. Hopefully he would be able to focus and get back on schedule. So DD and spent 3 weeks away visiting with my family and his and then driving home. DH got back on schedule then found more problems and was behind schedule and then was back on schedule.
I got home and got ready for the upcoming school year. After much thought we dropped our DD from the Virtual School and decided to Homeschool. So I pulled together a curriculum and planned for the year. This would work out better for us as we wouldn't have to miss school for our vacation, we can do school around our vacation. And Disney is educational.
As we approached the 45 day mark DH was again behind schedule and our trip was up in the air. Finally DH met with his boss and asked if we could still go or would we need to cancel. DH's Boss said it would be better to cancel. DH called me and I started to look and see what I would need to do to cancel everything. I told DD.
I didn't want to cancel the trip. It was no fair. Then DH called back. His Boss's Boss had heard about the situation. His response was No (Insert Adjective) way were we to cancel our trip. We were going. They would just have to work around our plans. YAY!! It was one roller coaster of a day. Ultimates low to ultimate high. And since it was from higher up there was no going back on the word. So as I write this we are only 22 days away from Disney and 21 days away from leaving for Kansas City. Only 3 weeks. I booked a park and sleep package at the hotel next to the airport. Cost me $125 and parking would have been about $100 so it was worth it. I've made a few more changes to out plans and added the WP&M to our tickets. We will go to the Water Park on our arrival day. I bought my MNSSHP tickets for Sept 28th. I've got my box of stuff to pack full and made sure we had enough clothes for our trip. Bought DH a new pair of crocs, bought my self some sandals, DD got a pair of fake crocs. DD and I plan on buying some Disney Crocs while we are there.
And thats the end of my story for now. I'm sure there is more to come.
