Aww, sorry you were having a rough day. I've had a few of them lately too.
I'm so glad you got out of your first marriage and moved on to a healthy loving family set-up. That wasn't easy to do at all. I admire your strength and courage to take those necessary steps and end up in the happy environment you're in today.
I hope I word this right. When I read what you wrote I wanted to tell you that I firmly believe great things happen at a specific time because they're meant to happen at that time and if they happened at any other time they mightn't be great at all you know?
So what I mean is this: let's say when Reese and Jim were young you *did* have the money to take them to Disney World. You presume now it would have been great because they were young.
But who's to say those trips would have been magical at all? Through whatever combination of events, be it something like a lack of access to Disney information pre-trip making you stuck in heavy crowds and an offsite crappy hotel (not that offsite hotels are crappy but obviously some of them are) or be it many other reasons, it's possible you'd have come home miserable and actually had no interest in returning. But you went to DW last year and that was the right time for you. Don't presume you'd have had the same experience years ago, just with younger, more innocent kids you know?
I know I haven't been through what you've been through so I wouldn't dare to presume to know what you're feeling. But as regards Disney World and timing, I know that I wanted to go there for
so many years. Then when my eldest son was born I thought "now for sure" but because of various issues, not least of all money, we ended up making our first trip when he was 11. Before the trip I remember feeling a bit regretful that he wasn't younger and still so innocent on his first trip. But now I wouldn't change any of it. That's the amazing thing about Disney World. It truly doesn't matter what age you are, the magic hits you full blast if you let it (like you have!). He and his brother were so happy for the entire trip I just know, if we had gone when they were younger, they couldn't possibly have enjoyed it any more than they did. I am now so glad the money wasn't there sooner. One thing - we didn't have internet access when 'Wayne' was 5 or 6 so we would most definitely have ended up staying in a cheapie hotel miles from the parks and probably arrived there in the thick of the crowds at 2pm each day. Chances are I'd have returned vowing to never go back.
I know you're probably thinking "but you had a little one to soak up all that magic too". Well, yeah. But honestly? Much as 'Alice' enjoyed it all on both trips, and yes, much as she hugged Minnie and reached out for Eeyore and beautiful and all as that was, it wasn't a fraction (not even a smidgeon) as powerful and intense as the effect Disney World had on my older two kids. Don't get me wrong, I adored the sweetness of those magical moments with Alice but they were so fleeting because at 2 years old when something's over, it's over. But when the older kids had a great moment (the thrill of R'nR or 'Wayne' doubled over laughing at Dale's antics or even their pleasure in going on a ride on their own without mom or dad breathing down their necks, lol) it was more real, more lasting. In short (yeah, sure!
) the boys have had two intense and *real* trips, Alice has just had tastes of it. It's when she's much older that she'll experience all the *real* joy that Disney World has to offer.
I'm not even wording this right... just trying to get it all out here on the page. But the funny thing is while part of you yearns to see the magic through the eyes of a young child, part of me regrets that 'Alice' won't remember the magic! Almost on a daily basis, I'm plotting and planning ways to get the money together to go back again in a year or so. I dream of Disney World, I adore it!!! But (outside of the fact that I'm broke) what stops me mostly is that she's so young to have *another* 'small child' trip. I look forward now to her at age 9, 12, 14 etc. soaking up a different kind of magic in Disney World... a magic she'll never forget. We'll hopefully get back long before she's 9 but only if I can be sure that those trips won't jeapordise trips when she's 10+.
And hey, bottom line is Disney is about magic, it's about happiness and togetherness. You have that togetherness and happiness every single day now because you got out of your old relationship and
you created that happiness. Holidays in Disney World are tremendous but you've already created the magic and happiness in your everyday life that Disney promotes and represents. You took your two children to Disney World and they enjoyed it because they came at it from the comfort and security of a loving home. That is a massive achievement. You did great!!!! Enjoy the magic that you all
do experience at the ages you
are at and be proud that you made it possible.
It was your turn today!
I'm glad you shared your thoughts with us!
They don't call them "Grand" for nothing. Our first trip was 5 years ago with DH(57),Me(56),DD(37),DGD(9) and DGD(11). It was perfect. We were as awed as you with our first view of the resort and the Magic Kingdom. I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney on television and seeing the statue of Walt and Mickey in front of the castle brought tears to my eyes. Now, it's the first place we go when we get there. Have to say "Hi Walt, we're back and thank you for this Magical Place". This year is for just us girls. My 5th adventure in the Kingdom, DD's second and DGDs third. We are the obsessive ones and as the girls grow up it is always a new trip especially through their eyes. Your adventures are just beginning. Now, enough commercial break, on with the show please.
And she said: "Hmm, what do I say to that?" 
On our first trip to DW he was so bad I ended up cussing him out "under the big ball in Epcot"!!!! I didn't even know until our 2nd trip that it was Spaceship Earth and that there was a ride in "the big ball"!! My girls still tease me about that!!!!!
