jennymouse
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2001
- Messages
- 4,175
Who we are: jennymouse (Me) 44yr AKA: Nana
DD (Jessica) 29yr old surgical tech
DGD (Skye) Soon to be 8. Best DGD in the world.
Prior to last year, my previous visits to WDW were only day visits when I'd pack up my DD and go stay a few days with my Aunt Barb & Uncle Steve.....Steve is an engineer who worked for the company that helped build Epcot, MGM, CBR & don't know what else.
Last year, (Spur of the moment and pre DIS) when I decided to take a vacation week from work to watch my DGD(then 6) on her Spring Break I got a wild hair and decided to take her to WDW for a few days. DGD is very well behaved and I had no worries about taking her alone.
I booked a Delta Vacations package through a local travel agent. Having never stayed onsite, I was hungry for info. That's when I found the DIS and learned how insane I was for going the week before Easter!
Ignorance is bliss, but I was ignorant no more. I shutter to think of how that week would've went if I hadn't found the DIS. We had a wonderful time. We arrived early, toured until 12 or 1 o'clock, took our pool breaks, then returned at night. DGD even got to open Magic Kingdom one morning! She was chosen to "start" Illuminations at the Rose & Crown too. The trip really was magical.
The only thing that was missing was that DD didn't get to go. She had just started a new job and didn't have any vacation time to take. On the plane ride home, I promised DGD we'd go again and this time her mommy would come too.
After reading a trip report by jdads2, I decided that we'd go for Halloween. I wanted a longer trip this time...preferably in a deluxe resort....and I didn't want to go in credit card debt to do it. There needed to be codes for that to happen though. Keep your fingers crossed for codes girls! "What's a code, Nana?"
Wanting to show my support for the DIS, in January I booked a room only at POR through Dreams Unlimited. I also got involved (read addicted) to rewards programs where (Thanks to Malificent2, & others on the Rewards Board) I ended up earning close to $1000 in gift certificates, Disney Dollars, etc. for the trip. I bought $100 in Disney Dollars every month and purchased 5 day park hoppers one a month for three months....then I started making payments on the resort. With part of my income tax return, I bought our airfare. There's no turning back now, girls!
Everything is all set, just have to wait for those codes! "Hey, Mom, can we go to that place you were telling me about last year? You know, the place where we can swim with the dolphins?" At $220 a head, this certainly wasn't in my budget. "Of course we can! But we'll have to have one heck of a yard sale girls!" I cleaned out my attic, Skye parted with old toys & stuffed animals, & Jess gathered up Skyes old clothes. My mother, father & brother even donated items for the sale. We ended up clearing almost exactly $440, enough for the two of them to go! (I'm thinking a relaxing day alone by the pool for myself.)
I pick Skye up from school every day and one day on the way home, "Look, Nana! A limosine!" Then she goes into this story about how her cousin on her daddy's side of the family got to have a limo to go to a birthday party, blah, blah, "Don't worry, Skye, when you grow up to be rich and famous, you'll get to ride in a limo." I got in touch with Yourride the next day and booked a limo for airport transfers as a surprise! Of course, I justified it with the rewards programs.
Alas, the wonderful codes came and I was able to switch my ressie to Animal Kingdom Lodge! AK was my DGD's favorite park last year, so she'll be in animal heaven at AKL. "We can only afford standard view girls, keep your fingers crossed for an upgrade!" Heck, we don't care if we have to stay in the broom closet, just to be there will be awsome!
With 120 days to go, I began to chose our restaurants. After drooling over the Restaurants Board, I book all the good ones. Flying Fish, Jiko, Brown Derby, throw in a few character meals in there for Skye. "Guess what, Mom! I bought a house!" "That's great, Jess, I'm so proud of you! You need a refrigerator, mini blinds, and what else?" Scratch Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Jiko...keep the limo, 2 character meals, Boma & Hoop Dee Doo....the girls are picky eaters anyway. Thank goodness for those Rainforest Cafe & Planet Hollywood giftcertificates I earned on the rewards programs!
Well, I think we're all set to go. As I write this, our bags are packed (5 + one empty one) and sitting in the corner of my bedroom. I can't imagine this trip being any more magical than our 4 night value trip last year, but we'll see! Now, if I can just shake this cold I woke with Saturday morning.....
DD (Jessica) 29yr old surgical tech
DGD (Skye) Soon to be 8. Best DGD in the world.
Prior to last year, my previous visits to WDW were only day visits when I'd pack up my DD and go stay a few days with my Aunt Barb & Uncle Steve.....Steve is an engineer who worked for the company that helped build Epcot, MGM, CBR & don't know what else.
Last year, (Spur of the moment and pre DIS) when I decided to take a vacation week from work to watch my DGD(then 6) on her Spring Break I got a wild hair and decided to take her to WDW for a few days. DGD is very well behaved and I had no worries about taking her alone.
I booked a Delta Vacations package through a local travel agent. Having never stayed onsite, I was hungry for info. That's when I found the DIS and learned how insane I was for going the week before Easter!
Ignorance is bliss, but I was ignorant no more. I shutter to think of how that week would've went if I hadn't found the DIS. We had a wonderful time. We arrived early, toured until 12 or 1 o'clock, took our pool breaks, then returned at night. DGD even got to open Magic Kingdom one morning! She was chosen to "start" Illuminations at the Rose & Crown too. The trip really was magical.
The only thing that was missing was that DD didn't get to go. She had just started a new job and didn't have any vacation time to take. On the plane ride home, I promised DGD we'd go again and this time her mommy would come too.
After reading a trip report by jdads2, I decided that we'd go for Halloween. I wanted a longer trip this time...preferably in a deluxe resort....and I didn't want to go in credit card debt to do it. There needed to be codes for that to happen though. Keep your fingers crossed for codes girls! "What's a code, Nana?"
Wanting to show my support for the DIS, in January I booked a room only at POR through Dreams Unlimited. I also got involved (read addicted) to rewards programs where (Thanks to Malificent2, & others on the Rewards Board) I ended up earning close to $1000 in gift certificates, Disney Dollars, etc. for the trip. I bought $100 in Disney Dollars every month and purchased 5 day park hoppers one a month for three months....then I started making payments on the resort. With part of my income tax return, I bought our airfare. There's no turning back now, girls!
Everything is all set, just have to wait for those codes! "Hey, Mom, can we go to that place you were telling me about last year? You know, the place where we can swim with the dolphins?" At $220 a head, this certainly wasn't in my budget. "Of course we can! But we'll have to have one heck of a yard sale girls!" I cleaned out my attic, Skye parted with old toys & stuffed animals, & Jess gathered up Skyes old clothes. My mother, father & brother even donated items for the sale. We ended up clearing almost exactly $440, enough for the two of them to go! (I'm thinking a relaxing day alone by the pool for myself.)
I pick Skye up from school every day and one day on the way home, "Look, Nana! A limosine!" Then she goes into this story about how her cousin on her daddy's side of the family got to have a limo to go to a birthday party, blah, blah, "Don't worry, Skye, when you grow up to be rich and famous, you'll get to ride in a limo." I got in touch with Yourride the next day and booked a limo for airport transfers as a surprise! Of course, I justified it with the rewards programs.
Alas, the wonderful codes came and I was able to switch my ressie to Animal Kingdom Lodge! AK was my DGD's favorite park last year, so she'll be in animal heaven at AKL. "We can only afford standard view girls, keep your fingers crossed for an upgrade!" Heck, we don't care if we have to stay in the broom closet, just to be there will be awsome!
With 120 days to go, I began to chose our restaurants. After drooling over the Restaurants Board, I book all the good ones. Flying Fish, Jiko, Brown Derby, throw in a few character meals in there for Skye. "Guess what, Mom! I bought a house!" "That's great, Jess, I'm so proud of you! You need a refrigerator, mini blinds, and what else?" Scratch Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Jiko...keep the limo, 2 character meals, Boma & Hoop Dee Doo....the girls are picky eaters anyway. Thank goodness for those Rainforest Cafe & Planet Hollywood giftcertificates I earned on the rewards programs!
Well, I think we're all set to go. As I write this, our bags are packed (5 + one empty one) and sitting in the corner of my bedroom. I can't imagine this trip being any more magical than our 4 night value trip last year, but we'll see! Now, if I can just shake this cold I woke with Saturday morning.....
Jennymouse,
I spent $10.99 on a bottle of that Zicam nasal spray this morning...I hope it works.
