So I hope most folks are enjoying time with loved ones today. I’m taking a brief (and much needed!) respite from the chaos of Christmas with a 4 year old and a 1 year old to write up a quick pre-trip report.
DH, DD4, DS1, and I leave in t-minus 17 days. I took DD to the World last year when I found out I was pregnant because mom-guilt. But I’ve never been with DH (though we both went many times as a kid/teen). DD remembers some things from last year (she’s crazy smart but also we have a photo album!) but this will feel new to her now that she’s big enough to do most of the rides and we’re spending a whole week (last trip was a short two days).
DH enjoys Disney but isn’t fanatic. He’s a type B personality who rolls his eyes at my planning but generally goes with the flow (and will, I’m sure, appreciate the lower wait times). So why Disney again now while the kids are crazy challenging? (I’m sure most of you are thinking, “why not now?!”)
I turned 40 last January, two months after DS was born. At the dinner table that night, with one kid screaming, another crying, and the dog begging for food, I looked across at my husband and said, ”For your 40th, we were in Paris…” and so we started planning a trip.
Originally we were thinking Montreal. We live in eastern PA, so would’ve been about a six-seven hour drive and easy enough to bring the kids along. I should note here that we are sorely lacking a “village” in raising our kids. While I get jealous watching colleagues and friends whisk away to Europe or some Caribbean resort for a long weekend while their nannies or parents take the kids, we just don’t have that. We were older first time parents, which means our parents are much older and can’t really handle the needs of two kids this young. And we don’t have the resources for a nanny. Throw in an 80 pound dog that likes to protect his baby sister and brother by humping anyone who walks in our door and we don’t even really have good babysitting options. So the kids come with us.
And I was planning this great trip. But then, I realized I was planning these activities to keep the kids entertained while we were there and it just wasn’t exciting to me. I wanted to go antiquing and eat refined meals and enjoy the spas. That wasn’t gonna happen.
And then my dad had heart surgery. And then complications from heart surgery kept him in the icu for nearly three weeks before we said a final goodbye. We had lost my mother-in-law just six months prior, which was hard enough. But those of you who have lost a parent - particularly one you’re very close to - know that the grief that hits you is inconceivable until you actually experience it.
So I said, “Eff it! Let’s go to Disney World.” And so we’ll be celebrating my last week of 40 at the most magical place on earth. Because 41 really needs to be better than this year was.
We’re staying offsite at the Sheraton Vistana Villages. Doing dinner at Homecomin’ when we arrive on Saturday, MK with BOG PPO on Sunday, Epcot on Monday, AK with Tiffins Tier 2 dinner on Tuesday, HS on Wednesday - with a babysitter coming to our hotel to watch the kids that afternoon so DH and I can build droids, have a drink at Oga’s, and hopefully ride RotR. Thursday we have EMM hours at MK and the Tony’s parade package lunch. Friday we’ll start with Trattoria al Forno breakfast and then let the kiddos decide which park they want to repeat. And then Saturday we have brunch at Raglan Road before heading back to reality. I’ve bought outfits and ears and lord knows what else (it’s all tucked away until after Christmas - but I was for sure grief shopping up a storm for awhile). And I’ve got my FPPs and touring plans done. All that’s left to do is pack and get on the plane.
Anyway, that’s the background on our upcoming adventure. One of the things that has helped me these last few months is reading all of your reports and questions and seeing this bizarre community of people come together over a mutual love for this one magical place. So I wanted to share my story with you. I hope to be able to bring you all along in some way through my own trip reports. But who knows if/when I’ll get to them with the littles (who seem to hate sleeping in a way I just can’t understand, btw…).
And for those still reading along, please know that I am doing well. Missing my MiL and dad for sure on this holiday morning (a day they both LOVED). But my kiddos keep me focused and energized and grounded in all the good in this world.
I will leave you with this one last thing - a picture of me and dad celebrating my 30th in WDW nearly 11 years ago now. He loved the World too and I know he’ll be with me on this trip in some way. Miss you, Dad, and Merry Christmas wherever you are.
And happy holidays to all of you here!
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