I was 38 or 39 and a single parent - I had had several deaths in my family over a period of months, including the sudden death of my mother. The woman I worked for called me in to her office one day and told me that she knew I'd had a tough couple of months but I'd handled it well, and she and her husband decided that my daughter and I needed a little break - they sent us to Disney for a week, to the CBR, and even rented us a car. I cried then, and this many years later, tears are running down my face while I type this.
It was the absolute nicest thing anyone had ever done for us. That is her trademark, unexpected generosities to those she knows, as well as to strangers. I try to do the same now, not on that scale, but something unexpected that will help someone.
It was the absolute nicest thing anyone had ever done for us. That is her trademark, unexpected generosities to those she knows, as well as to strangers. I try to do the same now, not on that scale, but something unexpected that will help someone.
making fantasy vacations at the various resorts and started doing the math? Could I possibly afford to do this as a single parent? 
If I book now and we leave at the end of June 2001 for 7 nights and I have to have it paid 45 days prior and if I have to put $200.00 down and if I divide the balance between X number of paychecks in between and then I have to take at least $1000.00 spending money...........!!!! 
I realized that if we stopped eating out and were careful that we could definately do this. So one week later I called a 
) and booked our trip and gave DS the good news. We were both so excited. We imediately called to order the WDW planning video which arrived just a few weeks later. We watched it every night till we left. I just wish I had known about the DIS 
before I booked. I think I could have done better with our booking either on my own which I have done since or by using Sue Ellen at 
time. About a month after we returned home I was in a kind of depressed funk and constantly wanting to be back at WDW and really felt like something was wrong with me. I am glad that I have since found out that this is totally normal. Now I either start actually planning our next trip or mentally prepare to plan the next trip. 
I love coming to the DIS each day to live vicariously through the trip reports and the trip planning and all. 
I was 4 years old when I went to WDW for the first time, so I don't remember how excited I was... but let me tell you... I am 31 and I am bouncing off the walls excited now for our trip in May. The wonder and magic have not waned even after 20 or so trips.... And, every year when the family cannot decide where to go on vacation, what is the default? You got it! WDW! 
