Post by tazdev3225 on Jan 13, 2012 12:21:24 GMT -5
I have got to think of better titles but this sort of says it all.
Most of you have heard the stories of my previous fiascos, umm trips. For those of you who have missed them and those of you who like the chuckle I will give a recap of some of them.
Trip 1 - June 1988: Our very first trip to the world. We went with my parents and baby brother Jason. Jason's school association set the trip up and it was too good to pass. I went with an 18 month old, 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old. I was in Disney and knew nothing so my parents took charge of our plans. They knew less but my mom likes to be the leader. We saw a lot of the Living Seas, not EPCOT, the Living Seas. My girls were too small for most things so I sat out with my dad. The only thing my middle daughter wanted was to see Pooh. We did, from a distance as we left. My dad would not give us 5 minutes to see him. We had a plane to catch in 4 hours. My mom canot be late for anything. We sat in an airport for 2 hours with an inconsolable child.
Trip 2 - August 1992
This was the trip from HADES!!! and not because it was in August My youngest broke her wrist the week before we left so she was in a full arm heavy plaster cast. We also had the BABYSITTER with us. To this day, 20 years later, I don't know why the babysitter was with us. As I planned the trip she somehow invited herself onto the trip. Let us just say I did not stab her with a fork though I did come close and Jim and I are still married. Divorce was mentioned several times on the trip. She was a very disruptive force. My kids were fighting, Jim and I had a HUGE fight in Sea World. We were the entertainment that day. She lost her cheap camera on Maelstrom, didn't have enough money for food or souvenirs and replaced the cheap camera in the park, we stayed offsite. Is it too late to sue her for the money I loaned her?
Trip 3 - August 1997
Another memorable gem of a trip. It was my family and my mom. We also drove for the first time. I never want to hear MMM Bop again as long as I live. My son had his first panic attacks on this trip. My mom is less than sympathetic to this day. We faced the Groups from Brazil, very rude people, and my middle DD wound up in a wheelchair most of the trip. She was hit by a car a few years earlier and was still suffering from some of the after effects. Also grandmom catered to her which caused some problems with the other 2 kids. We did have some fun times on this trip when my son wasn't being sick and my mom wasn't yelling at my DH.
Trip 3 - October 2001
This was my first trip without the family. I went with my aunt and her partner to celebrate my aunt's birthday. This was also my first experience staying onsite at the Grand Floridian. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. I spent a lot of time alone though. I understand why my aunt pays for the deluxe hotel - she spends more time there than in the parks. It was a month after 9/11 and the parks were different. It was my first trip where security went through everything. I also experiened MNSHHP for the first time.
Trip 4 - August 2003
This was another one of the trips that we all have differing opinions about. It was the first trip the family stayed onsite and my grandson's 1st trip. My future DIL was also pregnant. My son, I cannot call him dear, wanted to sleep til noon at least. The rest of us wanted to get out of the room by 9. Needless to say it caused problems. When we got to the parks we had to find every single smoking spot. Our day was smoke, go on a ride, smoke, go in a shop, smoke, go on a ride. The funniest part for me was when my DS, DD and DDil decided to try and walk through the drive thru at McDonalds because that was all that was open. My other DD and I had gone to DTD and brought food back for my DH. If the others had listened they would have had some too as we passed them on the bus. My son still swears I ruined his first trip to WDW with his son.
I then took a few trips with just Jim, Jim and the grandson or with my mom. Each trip was better than the last. Then came my DS with his question. Did i want to go with him and his family in a year or so? Dumb question, of course we wanted to go. Did I think his sisters would want to go? I almost cried. It was my dream come true. All of my kids and grandkids experiencing the magic. The girls were in. Then came the big "Mom, we need to talk". My DS wasn't going. His wife was starting tech school to be an LPN. The girls were still going. Then I got the "Mom we need to talk." Yep knew where that was heading. DD and her family were out, They needed to pay some bills and get some work done on the house.
I went to the youngest DD and she said they were going. That trip was last year. I learned a lot about traveling with my kids. Overall it was a good trip but it had some bumps.
That brings us to this trip. When my Middle child backed out she said they were definitely going to take the kids the next year. When I got home in August we talked. She was telling the kids all about WDW, we started planning and then - the bottom started to fall out. She had some unexpected dental problems, not covered by insurance. Don't get me started she has lousy coverage. Her pipes burst in her house, only some of it covered. You get where I'm going. I talked to Jim. His truck is paid off so we have a little extra income. I had planed on surprising him with a cruise next year. I gave him a choice. I love that big lug. He said that taking the grandkids to Disney was worth more than any other trip we could take.
I talked to my DD. "We will pay for the trip upfront if you pay us back!" I did not want to disappoint those kids again. She talked with DSIL and they agreed. So we are planning another trip back to the world.
So the cast of characters are Jim and I
My teenage grandson Jay. He will turn 14 on the trip.
Ella who's 3, and LOVES Minnie and Tiana
Michael (Mikey) who will be 6. he loves Buzz
Crystal who will turn 8 three days before we leave
All 3 of them
My DD Jennifer, and her whatever he is Mike. I will post pics of them as soon as I find one. I have more of the grandkids for some reason.
When: After much discussion we are going Aug 18th til Aug 25th. We will be driving down so Aug 18th will be offsite just to spend the night.
Where: All Star Movies, preferred room and hopefully Toy Story again.
We are hoping for free dining and are discussing where we want to eat so that I can make ADR's when the time comes. We aren't going to do PH's unless we decide to buy tickets through Jennifers job. That will depend on the free dining of course.
So there you have the start of our plans. Suggestions for picky eaters? My daughter is worse than the kids. Crystal likes Calamari, Jennifer likes chicken nuggets. I think we will be switching meals alot.
Most of you have heard the stories of my previous fiascos, umm trips. For those of you who have missed them and those of you who like the chuckle I will give a recap of some of them.
Trip 1 - June 1988: Our very first trip to the world. We went with my parents and baby brother Jason. Jason's school association set the trip up and it was too good to pass. I went with an 18 month old, 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old. I was in Disney and knew nothing so my parents took charge of our plans. They knew less but my mom likes to be the leader. We saw a lot of the Living Seas, not EPCOT, the Living Seas. My girls were too small for most things so I sat out with my dad. The only thing my middle daughter wanted was to see Pooh. We did, from a distance as we left. My dad would not give us 5 minutes to see him. We had a plane to catch in 4 hours. My mom canot be late for anything. We sat in an airport for 2 hours with an inconsolable child.
Trip 2 - August 1992
This was the trip from HADES!!! and not because it was in August My youngest broke her wrist the week before we left so she was in a full arm heavy plaster cast. We also had the BABYSITTER with us. To this day, 20 years later, I don't know why the babysitter was with us. As I planned the trip she somehow invited herself onto the trip. Let us just say I did not stab her with a fork though I did come close and Jim and I are still married. Divorce was mentioned several times on the trip. She was a very disruptive force. My kids were fighting, Jim and I had a HUGE fight in Sea World. We were the entertainment that day. She lost her cheap camera on Maelstrom, didn't have enough money for food or souvenirs and replaced the cheap camera in the park, we stayed offsite. Is it too late to sue her for the money I loaned her?
Trip 3 - August 1997
Another memorable gem of a trip. It was my family and my mom. We also drove for the first time. I never want to hear MMM Bop again as long as I live. My son had his first panic attacks on this trip. My mom is less than sympathetic to this day. We faced the Groups from Brazil, very rude people, and my middle DD wound up in a wheelchair most of the trip. She was hit by a car a few years earlier and was still suffering from some of the after effects. Also grandmom catered to her which caused some problems with the other 2 kids. We did have some fun times on this trip when my son wasn't being sick and my mom wasn't yelling at my DH.
Trip 3 - October 2001
This was my first trip without the family. I went with my aunt and her partner to celebrate my aunt's birthday. This was also my first experience staying onsite at the Grand Floridian. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. I spent a lot of time alone though. I understand why my aunt pays for the deluxe hotel - she spends more time there than in the parks. It was a month after 9/11 and the parks were different. It was my first trip where security went through everything. I also experiened MNSHHP for the first time.
Trip 4 - August 2003
This was another one of the trips that we all have differing opinions about. It was the first trip the family stayed onsite and my grandson's 1st trip. My future DIL was also pregnant. My son, I cannot call him dear, wanted to sleep til noon at least. The rest of us wanted to get out of the room by 9. Needless to say it caused problems. When we got to the parks we had to find every single smoking spot. Our day was smoke, go on a ride, smoke, go in a shop, smoke, go on a ride. The funniest part for me was when my DS, DD and DDil decided to try and walk through the drive thru at McDonalds because that was all that was open. My other DD and I had gone to DTD and brought food back for my DH. If the others had listened they would have had some too as we passed them on the bus. My son still swears I ruined his first trip to WDW with his son.
I then took a few trips with just Jim, Jim and the grandson or with my mom. Each trip was better than the last. Then came my DS with his question. Did i want to go with him and his family in a year or so? Dumb question, of course we wanted to go. Did I think his sisters would want to go? I almost cried. It was my dream come true. All of my kids and grandkids experiencing the magic. The girls were in. Then came the big "Mom, we need to talk". My DS wasn't going. His wife was starting tech school to be an LPN. The girls were still going. Then I got the "Mom we need to talk." Yep knew where that was heading. DD and her family were out, They needed to pay some bills and get some work done on the house.
I went to the youngest DD and she said they were going. That trip was last year. I learned a lot about traveling with my kids. Overall it was a good trip but it had some bumps.
That brings us to this trip. When my Middle child backed out she said they were definitely going to take the kids the next year. When I got home in August we talked. She was telling the kids all about WDW, we started planning and then - the bottom started to fall out. She had some unexpected dental problems, not covered by insurance. Don't get me started she has lousy coverage. Her pipes burst in her house, only some of it covered. You get where I'm going. I talked to Jim. His truck is paid off so we have a little extra income. I had planed on surprising him with a cruise next year. I gave him a choice. I love that big lug. He said that taking the grandkids to Disney was worth more than any other trip we could take.
I talked to my DD. "We will pay for the trip upfront if you pay us back!" I did not want to disappoint those kids again. She talked with DSIL and they agreed. So we are planning another trip back to the world.
So the cast of characters are Jim and I
My teenage grandson Jay. He will turn 14 on the trip.
Ella who's 3, and LOVES Minnie and Tiana
Michael (Mikey) who will be 6. he loves Buzz
Crystal who will turn 8 three days before we leave
All 3 of them
My DD Jennifer, and her whatever he is Mike. I will post pics of them as soon as I find one. I have more of the grandkids for some reason.
When: After much discussion we are going Aug 18th til Aug 25th. We will be driving down so Aug 18th will be offsite just to spend the night.
Where: All Star Movies, preferred room and hopefully Toy Story again.
We are hoping for free dining and are discussing where we want to eat so that I can make ADR's when the time comes. We aren't going to do PH's unless we decide to buy tickets through Jennifers job. That will depend on the free dining of course.
So there you have the start of our plans. Suggestions for picky eaters? My daughter is worse than the kids. Crystal likes Calamari, Jennifer likes chicken nuggets. I think we will be switching meals alot.