Originally Posted By ourmagicears Janet (mother-in-law) Cory (husband) Candy (self) Cora (daughter-9) Carson (son-5) ????? From – Northern California Pre Trip Planning: I am writing this in hopes of doing a complete beginning to end WDW vacation trip report. Last year in May (2006), we went to Disneyland for 5 days. We had a great time, but yet this seemed to be a lot of a theme park. I would of much rather done Disneyland/ Disney California Adventure in 3 days (that would have been plenty. I never wrote a trip report, and to this day I totally regret not sharing our fun with you all). We were incredibly lucky! On our flight home from LAX to Sacramento International airport we were asked if we would be willing to get bumped from our original flight which had been over booked by 24 people. We had our two children (5 & 8) and my mother-in-law (who managed to have something very negative to say about every bit of our trip. We had paid for all of her trip!). We agreed to wait 3 hours for the next flight, in exchange for 5 free round trip tickets, to be used anywhere in the continental US. We also where placed in First Class ! Anyone who is offered this wonderful opportunity, TAKE IT!!!! I can say that we where home no longer than 48 hours before we knew what we where going to do with our tickets. Walt Disney World!!! Okay maybe it was due to the “It’s a Small World†ringing in my ears, missing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride (do to it’s refurbishment) or the look of complete admiration when our children saw Cinderella’s Castle and all of the Disney Characters. Disney was definitely running through our veins! Our first order of business, was to find a good time for us to go as a family and to see if our free plane tickets would be excepted for these dates……Luck was still with us. We chose March 29 – April 7, 2007. Yes I know this is in the middle of Spring Break! My children’s education is very important. Last year my daughter had three tests when she got back (STAR and GATE). I am one of those parents who will always encourage the brain before brawn (my husband is the opposite, lol). The second order of business, vacation package, I called AAA (we have membership and saved 2356.31 last year using AAA). I then called Walt Disney Travel and checked on line at Mouseears.com and a couple of others. You won’t believe it, AAA was more than all the others and $0.83 more than Walt Disney Travel (Hmmmm). So we chose Walt Disney Travel. First we where going to stay at All Star Movies, then we switched to Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter and then I thought ……we are saving a lot of money on airfare, why not go all out! Our final decision was Animal Kingdom Lodge – Savannah view……or was it?!!......NO…we decided to stay on the Concierge floor (we stayed at the Disney Hotel Concierge floor at Disneyland and had a wonderful time). We added 7 day park hopper tickets and the meal plan. I asked for the Water Park day to be added as a single day trip, the suggestion was to wait to get them when we got to the park, this would be cheaper by $11.00ea. Thank You Disney CM’s for remembering families who want to cut where they can, so they can spend more on souvenirs. We also added a rental car. Our good friends are major Walt Disney World buffs, they said that they have only gone one time to WDW with out a rental car and relied on WDW transportation, BIG MISTAKE! The biggest perk of the whole package, was the Magical Express. I absolutely hated having to lug our suitcases from one end of LAX to the other. We even had trouble catching our shuttle to the airport on our return flight. The voucher said we didn’t need to make arrangement to catch a shuttle, this only referred to the arrival not the departure. When our package was figured out and the first down payment was made, the excitement in my tummy began. I called the Kilimanjaro Club at Animal Kingdom Lodge and started scheduling my plans. They took down my dinning requests and on the 180 day before, made ALL of our dinning reservations. I asked to schedule the exclusive Safari Breakfast and my daughter is going to do surf lessons at Typhoon Lagoon (she is already a surfer; I just thought she might have fun doing this). I purchased tickets for Cirque Du Soleil (Front & Center). For Christmas I received the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with children. I already had the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007. This book was very helpful. I got a lot of insight on the child’s needs and want s at WDW. My mother-in-law (yes she is coming with us; we are making her pay for the Cirque Du Soleil tickets), read the children’s version of the Unofficial Guide. She saw the California Grill and thought she would like to see the fireworks from this restaurant. I thought as many suggestions she gives us and as many as we can grant, maybe she would feel less negative about this trip. So secretively, I have made reservations for California Grill (I wonder what this will be, we live in California. I didn’t know we/Ca hade it’s own cuisine!!!!lol), my children will be at the Simba’s Club House for this dinner (adults ONLY!). So while I am writing this, I have left out purposefully a little detail…..about a year and a half ago we started the adoption process. I am adopted and have always known that I would have biological children and adoptive children. A couple of months ago (9/06), we where being considered for the adoption of a baby girl. We didn’t get her. Then the same baby was offered to us again 3 weeks later, with our hearts on our sleeves we agreed to go through the process again. Again she was given to another family. Each time we were ready to change our vacation plans to allow comfort to a baby, planning ahead to how old she would be in WDW. After the second time, I gave up to the thought we would not have a baby anytime soon. We figured when it happens it happens. GUESS WHAT?? While I was typing this out, I got a call from our case worker, there is a 3 week old baby girl and we are the only ones being considered!!!!! (Heart on sleeve again) We will be finding out tomorrow. I guess this trip maybe a major celebration after all. I will give our trip review when we arrive home in April. If you need any advice about how I did anything, I would LOVE to help! TO BE CONTINUED………… APRIL 2007
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 (With tears in my eyes ), I want to wish you the best trip and hopefully, you'll have an extra little "bundle" to take with you. Please, do come back and tell us all about the trip, and please include photos if you can!! How very, very exciting for you. (I have a co-worker who just went through similiar adoption process, and out of the blue right before Thanksgiving, they were blessed with a little baby boy! What a thrill for them, and especially after years of disappointments) This truly could be the most MAGICAL trip ever for you!!
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy I don't think I've ever read a PRE-trip report, I love it! Sounds like you have a fabulous trip lined up for your family. And I am truly going to keep your family in my thoughts and prayers that you get some good news on the adoption. Best of luck to you!
Originally Posted By ourmagicears Thank You! (with tears in my eyes as well) we got the best news ever today, next Friday we will be able to go pick up our new baby girl!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh WOW - this is one of the best threads on LP. Ourmagicears - I hope you have a fantastic time, and I really am hoping the adoption goes well. that's wonderful news! You've made this ex social worker smile bug style!
Originally Posted By nevadarebel congratulations on the trip and the new baby! I love the pre trip report as it will be a great thing in years to come to for all of your family to see the love you put into this trip and for your new daughter to know how much she was loved before she became part of your family and that she also was included in this planning. Thank you for sharing this with us and keep us updated on the trip and of course the angel you have received.
Originally Posted By nevadarebel just checking to see how the baby is doing and if you have updates yet.
