Winter Blues WDW vacation

[fletchers5]

I am new to these boards. Was looking up information online for information on Disney World and came across the Dis Boards. What a wonderful place this is. I have used Cruisecritic forums for all of my Cruises, but never did I imagine there would be one for Walt Disney World...............

Alas, this is the start to my pre- vacation planning.

I am 44 and my husband is 45 ( well, he'll be turning 46 on our trip home from WDW). My brother 46, his wife (? she won't tell? their 2 boys 6,9 and my other brother 40, his wife, their daughter 5 and son 8 months.

Both of my brothers and their families live in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Yes, they do go to WDW probably way too many times during the year. I live in the Chicago area. Anyways, over Christmas, my oldest brother thought that it would be nice if all the family got together and rented a house near WDW for a week sometime in the spring. I have been to WDW 3 times, twice with my children and once just my husband and I ( that was before we had children). My kids are older- DS 24, DD 22, DS18. Anyways, I thought a spring vacation might be nice. The oldest son would definelty not want to go, my daughter ( who is in college in NY) would be soooooo mad if we went to Disney without her, and the youngest I don't think could care less.
My husband and I deserve to do a DISNEY trip without them. We would be able to enjoy our nieces and nephews. ( You know how that is- when they start acting up- give them back)

So my minds starts wheeling. Should we go, is it in our budget ( I had just booked a Bermuda cruise for Sept for our 25 wedding anniversary), can we get the time off. I coach gymnastics and believe me It is very hard to take time off.

Well after I checked on the dates, we figured the end of March would be the best time. Naturally my daughters spring break is two weeks earlier ( sorry honey, we do love you).

I called my brother and said let's do it. I told him to book something soon as it is spring break and everything is getting booked up. So he has booked a 5 bedroom house.

Now my stupidity, I tell my daughter what we are doing. Should have waited till the day we were leaving. " What, your going to Disney, I am going. Book me a plane ticket. I can miss class for a day. I will come down Thursday and leave on Sunday." I tell my youngest one " Hey we are going to Disney for the week, do you want to go?". " Well actually I am going on vacation with my girlfriends family that week." They are going to southern Florida. "Maybe we could meet up with you for a couple of days. My girlfriend has never been to Disney."

So this just me and my husband meeting up with the brothers is turning into my whole family going. Now don't get me wrong, I love my kids to death, but you know how it is. When they are with you, you are expected to pay for everything and I mean everything.Even the girlfriend. Doesn't matter if they all have jobs and have nicer savings accounts than you do. You have to pay for it all.

So this is my pre vacation. Only 5 weeks to go. After enduring a way too long period of - 0 weather, a foot of snow and more cold weather, we will be off to Florida. We will be driving down. Seems like we always drive to where we need to go. Take a couple extra days and enjoy the long, long.long drive. LOL.

We will be arriving in Floriday on a Tuesday ( not quite sure where we are staying that day) meeting up with my brothers on Wed at the house. Picking my daughter up Thursday and hopefully hitting one of the parks that day. Going to the parks on Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday. Taking my daughter back to the airport, then Monday morning making the 18 hour drive home.