What? Work? C'mon, I'm leaving for the World in 3 Days!

[Convert]

Here we go - my pre-trip report, or as I like to call it, "The Reason I Am Avoiding Real Work" pre-trip report. Since I found the dis (more on that later) I am pulled here to the trip reports board and slowly eat into my work day. *sigh* Doesn't my boss know that I am heading to the most magical place on earth in less than a month? On with the tale:

Cast:
Me: 29, Newly-addicted Diser and all-around Disaholic. I never went to the World until a day trip on spring break in college (boo-hiss, I know!). My first trip to the MK was less than impressive. More on that later. Then I went last year with DH and DS (2 at the time) and quickly became obessed with all things Disney.
DH: Also known as Clavin, as in Cliff Clavin. Clavin knows everything and is *always* right, at least he thinks so. He's 35 and a great dad. He is beginning to think I am a freak with my daily WDW tips and strategies. But at heart, he is a disaholic too.
DS: Age 3. The center of my world and spoiled rotten. Loves Mickey Mouse and Daisy Duck. Carries around his Mickey and Friends action figures in his popcorn bucket from last year.
DN: Age 4. We tried to get my SIL and BIL to come with us on this trip, but they can't take time off from work. So we're taking our niece with us to experience WDW with us. She went to WDW a few years ago for a day trip to the MK. As far as kids go, she is more like a sister to DS than a cousin.
DF: My friend Stephanie coincidentially is heading to the World the same dates as my family. This is sheer conicindence, but has turned out to be a blessing. She introduced me to the DIS and for that I am eternally grateful. Since her DD is 2 and still free, they are staying at the Poly and I am green (lime green?) with envy. We are at ASMo.

A Little Background
Last summer, DH decided to go to a conference in Orlando, FL in September '05. Orlando? You mean the Orlando where you-know-what is located? Yup, that Orlando. DH convinces his boss that it is cheaper to stay on-property at the World then to pay $200+ a night at the conference hotel. Boss says yes and gives him a per diem for food and car rental. With the Free Dining plan at a Value resort, we only have to pay $500 for a 10-day trip! Yowza. DS and I are on board! The moment I saw the train pull into the station outside the MK for the opening of the park, I was hooked. DS was in awe and I was crying like an idiot. You see, a few years back, DH (then DF) took me to the MK for a day trip in March. It was cold, we were broke and we practically ran from the park around 7 p.m. We didn't even stay for the fireworks. It was a bad trip and I wasn't sure about returning. But seeing WDW through my son's eyes was one of the best moments of my life. When we rounded the corner and saw the castle for the first time, I again was in tears as my DS squealed in delight - "The castle! The castle!" Since that day, I have been planning my next WDW trip.

Fast forward to April of this year. We hear that Disney is offering the same deal - hotel, meals and park tickets for a ridiculously low price. We're so THERE! We decide on ASMo and book it. Only 5 months to go...

Up next: My DF Stephanie and I are in cahoots! How I was introduced to the DIS.

 

[meglovesbelle]

subscribing since you will probably include some of my nutiness with you, ok now that i read it I knew I would be mentioned. OK keep going now, I am sure the bossman understands.

 

[stina]

I'm so happy to hear you've found "the love" after that one terrible WDW experience. Your excitement is stoking my own Disney fever since I'm leaving for WDW in less than a month too!

hooray for us!

stina

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who tears up at the entrance of MK

 

[Convert]

Okay, trip is booked and I am set. Now all I have to do is wait for what seems like eternity - 5 months. I casually mention to my friend meglovesbelle that we are heading to the WORLD! I knew that she too was heading there and as it turns out, we are going to same days. She begins to ask me all kinds of questions that are foreign to me - "Do you have ADRs?" "Do you
know where the Hidden Mickey's are?" "Are you getting Crocs?" Huh? ADRs? Crocs? Why would I take a reptile to WDW? Aren't there enough Crocs in Flordia anway?

She, of course, is appalled at my lack of knowledge. Her friend, Char, a DISnut herself (more on that in later installments), tells her to give me the Golden (lime green?) Key - the DIS. I come here and am humbled, truly humbled. I read with thirst every TR I can, every "Theme Park Strategy", the Budget Board. I easily spend 1-2 hours a day on the DIS. I am a "convert" when I read VW_guy's Trip Report (How the Perfect Proposal Went Perfectly Wrong" and am so moved I register as a user so I can post. Ah, my first post.
I remember those days.

So now I am hooked. I am on here all the time and cannot stay away. My name is Bethany, and I am a DISaholic.

I quickly get my act in gear and make my ADRs (not ressies, ADRs)- Crystal Palace (2x), Chef Mickeys, Garden Grill, and Norway Princesses. I go back and forth about the latter and then cancel that ADR and add Coral Reef. Phew, my dining is set, now what to do?

I obsess over what to pack (do we take snacks, water?), what to wear (it was HOT last year), pray for good weather. I buy DS and DN a matching shirt and dress off of disneyshopping.com and for a second think of getting them for DH and myself. Nah, we're not the cutesy type.

As I mentioned before, my friend is staying at the Poly (not the Polynesian, I tell DH, the Poly. THat's what *we* call it on the DIS) so I try to get DH to upgrade. I call the folks at WDW reservations to be told that there isn't any room for us at the Poly. *sigh* So I secretly wish for the upgrade of all upgrades when we check in. It does happen, right? Well, why not me.

So now I have 26 days left to go and have planned every spare minute of my time so it goes fast. This weekend, a trip to AC, next weekend, a Labor Day getaway, the following weekend - a PSU football game party (I bleed Blue and White, ya know?) the following weekend we'll pack and POOF, we'll be at the World.

Why, pray tell, does 26 days seem so far?

 

[meglovesbelle]

Remember do not think of it as 26 days, think of it as 14 work days or are we down to 13 work days ?? Really you must thank Char, she brought me to these boards a few years ago when she planned and organized my Mom and her trip on a Disney cruise and land trip. Binder and all she was well prepared, so I knew I had to check it out. Didn't actually register until this year, now with a DD (2) I know the trips will become more frequent, especially now that I have Convert and Charlene in my court to persuade the DH. Ok take those links off your DS's chain and it will be here sooner than you think !!

 

[Convert]

We got the packet in the mail today with the itinerary and the luggage tags. So it was a good DIS day here. We took off Cindy from the chain today - it's getting shorter.

 

[Convert]

Wow, 26 days quickly turned into 3. Eeek gads! Just three days left. Not to worry, folks, my suitcases are already packed. And by the door. In fact, I am thinking of just sleeping in the van for three nights to get a jump on the trip.

Since our last installment, I have done lots of DIS-like things to get ready for the trip. I've made excel spreadsheets with times of shows and parades. I took a trip to the nearest Disney Store with meglovesbelle to get a shirt for the trip (Tink, anyone?). I've made it my personal mission at work to find out where the laminitating machine is so I can make my itinerary indestructible.

Yes, 26 days is now 3, and I am ready. Bring it on Mickey, bring it on.