amazingact21
Upendi
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2010
I shouldn’t be writing this pre-trip report.
Pre-trip reports are useless.
Nobody wants to read about planning for a Disney trip. They want the goods. They want to read about your three hour wait in the Flights of Passage queue. They want to see photos of you shoving your face full of Casey’s corn dog nuggets.
They want your memories of Disney.
Not your hopes and dreams and aspirations.
Those are boring.
Those don’t help fill the Disney void that’s constantly in your everyday life.
“Why would I want to read about what you want to do in Epcot. I’ve got my own list for that, Sharon.”
(Sorry, Sharon, I mean no offense by bashing your theoretical Epcot goals.)
Let’s face it, guys, pre-trip reports just aren’t as popular as actual trip reports. It’s okay to admit, we’ve all been guilty of having them. We’re all human, here. Occasionally, we put strawberry jelly rather than grape on our PB & J sandwiches. So if you’ll allow me this slip in trip reporting entertainment, I think I’ll get this thread up and running. Because the truth of the matter is a Disney trip is a huge endeavor.
I have been out of the game for a few years, and once I toed the waters (not Bay Lake’s, I stay far away from that darn one) I realized I was in way over my head. It turns out, planning for a Walt Disney World vacation is not like riding a bicycle.
I hopped back on that ten speed and promptly fell flat on my face.
What am I doing?!
I need some organization in my life. These Dining reservations, those hotel dates, that packing list….they all need to be written down and summarized in a clean, accessible way.
“Did you say accessible?” Insert the DIS elbowing its way into the forefront of my mind. “I’m always available to help.”
“Except between 9 and 11 my time when you’re down for the night.”
“What can I say, a server’s gotta sleep. But never mind that. Think of me as your one stop shop for listing plans, keeping up with reservations, and creating opportunity for feedback. Doesn’t that sound appealing?”
“I don’t know, do you really think it’s worth writing about my plans?”
“Do you have a kid whose more Sheldon than Sheldon and needs specific routines?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Do you have another kid who will thwart as many Disney plans as possible by going against the grain?”
“Oh, yes, I definitely have one of those.”
“What about mistakes, anyone prone to that?”
“Well, I have forgotten to bring tickets that need to be activated with me. And I’ve locked my husband out of a hotel room with a sleeping infant before. Do those count?”
“Oh, honey. You NEED a pre-trip report.”
Huh. If you say so.
If that’s out of the way, then let’s begin, shall we?
Let me start off by saying hi. I’m Alicia:
I’m married to this fellow:
And together we have two children. Landon:
And Evie:
We’re a happy little family that spent the early years of our marriage in our hometown of Florida. It was there that we had 6 wonderful and action-packed years of Walt Disney World trips. In that short span of time, I partook in 12 trips to the parks with 1 Disney cruise and 2 runDisney 5K events. Those vacations stand out strong in my memories and had we stayed in Florida, Alex and I probably would have gone 12 more times between then and now.
However, my husband is in the military and in 2016 we moved halfway around the world to Germany. Living in such a vastly different place, Alex and I focused our time and effort away from the Disney parks and more on nearby cities and countries. Places that were once out of reach suddenly became attainable. We’ve eaten our way through Rome, driven around Ireland, and gazed at the Swiss Alps covered in snow.
Our Disney hiatus wasn’t perfect. I went back to Walt Disney World in 2017 when Alex was deployed, and we all spent a dream worthy night at the Polynesian after my sister in-law’s wedding brought us back stateside.
We have also made 3 trips to Disneyland Paris in France to catch sight of the dragon under their castle and to lay our heads in one of the closest Disney resorts to a park.
Life has been an adventure, and as appreciative as Alex and I have been for the opportunities, we have missed our Walt Disney World vacations.
It is past time we escape from reality for a few days and go live in the moment. The “moment” entailing dole whips and Big Thunder Mountain, monorail rides and projections on the castle. The moment where no dishes need be washed, no meeting be attended.
The moment where the only bus stops we are required to visit are those that take my kids to a grand castle at the end of a street. The appointments in our calendars will be to hug a member of the Fab Five or decide which we’d rather eat, Stuffed French Toast or Mickey Waffles. Where bedtimes are waived and afternoon naps take place poolside. Where the biggest fear will be a kid not hitting a minimum height requirement.
It’s time to return to Walt Disney World.
But wait…would could be better than one epic return to the world? What about following it with another trip to Disneyland Paris in the fall?
Surely, it can’t get better than that.
Oh, but it can.
How about a solo trip BACK to Walt Disney World in November?
This would be insanity.
Good thing we’re all mad here.
Hang on to your hats, guys and gals, this here is gonna be the wildest ride in the wilderness. A ride encompassing three (THREE) trips to Disney property in 2019!!!
Up Next…We Have to Sleep Somewhere