There's a first for everything! My first PTR and trip to DW 9/2010

[ZombiexMuffins]

I am new to this whole..PTR thing, so please bare with me.

My name is Maranda, I am 22 years old, and I live in Connecticut. I am a certified makeup artist but am working at an exhibit as a greeter/artifact specialist until I can go back to school to get my aesthetics license.

I live with my boyfriend who will be turning 22 on August 29th. His name is Michael, and we have been together for three years. He works as a copy center technician, graduating from a tech school with a trade in graphics.

Here's a pic of us from Christmas 2009:

I am a HUGEEEEE lover of Halloween, while he is a HUGEEE lover of horror films. We both work together at a local haunted house in October. This year will be our fourth year. Nothing beats being able to scare the pants off someone after having a bad day at your real job.

I have a cat named Luna, but unfortunately she is currently living with my grandmother until we can get a place of our own. I've had her for three years, and consider her my one and only child.

My favorite Disney movies are The Little Mermaid and Wall-E. My favorite Disney character is Tinkerbell. As for a favorite ride, I haven't even been on it yet being this will be my first trip but I KNOW I will be loving the Haunted Mansion..
Speaking of which..Michael has been to Disney five times and has NEVER been on the Haunted Mansion OR seen Wishes. That is absolutely absurd to me. How can you miss WISHES?!

Our trip is planned for September 20th-25th, 2010 and we are going to be staying at POP. I can't believe there is only 46 days left to go!
I just gotta convince myself I can handle a three hour plane ride. I am TERRIFIED of flying..

 

[ZombiexMuffins]

How It Began

As you know by now, I have never been to Disney World. Heck, I've never been on a plane, nor have I ever been to NYC..so this whole trip is going such an "out of this world" experience for me..

I have always dreamed of going to DW, and had always planned on going for a honeymoon someday thinking it would be my only opportunity. I've had friends go and bring me back a Tinkerbell pen or some small souvenir, but everytime they would talk about their favorite rides or experiences I'd always feel left out.

About 6 months I had started working at an exhibit that is visiting in my area. Three of my co-workers are HUGE Disney fans and have been many, many times. My friend J was talking Disney with me one day because she had just booked her July trip, and she was astounded that I have never been. Then, my friend M ended up booking a trip to go in July as well because her best friend was going to be proposed to while on the trip, so she was going along to be there as part of the surprise. With everyone talking Disney and them telling me how sad it was that I have never been, I started looking up price-ranges online to kind of get an idea how much it would cost. My boyfriend during this time began to get annoyed with me constantly talking about a possible trip, and eventually figured saying "maybe" we could go would be good enough for me.

So, just for the heck of it I ordered a vacation DVD and waited anxiously for it to come in the mail..

Cue a few weeks later, and there it is sitting on the kitchen table. We watched it, and my boyfriend was now eager to go on a trip.

My friend J gave me her travel agents info, so I sent an e-mail asking for the price range, etc. Literally the next day I get a phone call with a great price, and the boyfriend pulls out his debit card and says "Let's do it!" And ta-da! The trip was booked!

This was my reaction to the confirmation e-mail:

Part of the whole reason why I was also so eager to go on this trip is because this year marked the 5 year anniversary of my beloved aunt's passing. She suffered from juvenile diabetes that eventually took away her eye-sight and attacked her kidneys. Due to complications with her medications she had to take when doing hemo-dialysis, she ended up passing away before she had the chance to get a kidney transplant. Before her passing, she would talk about how much she would love to go to Disney World, because she was a kid at heart all the way to the end. My grandma who was her care-taker knew how much she had wanted to go and had tried to find some way to fund a trip, but it never happened..
I loved my aunt like she was my big sister, because I had been raised by my grandmother most of my life. Now that I am 22 and have the money, this year just seemed like the perfect opportunity to go to Disney World..

I decided to book it in September, because my aunt and I share a vast love for Halloween and her birthday is Sept 28th. When J told me about MNSSHP beforehand, I knew that somehow and someway I was going to get down there and go to it for her. Nothing seems more perfect to me than Disney World and Halloween all wrapped up into one.

I know it's going to be a very emotional trip, but it is one that is going to be worth the tears. I know she isn't able to go with us full-body, but I know her spirit will be there watching over me. It's a dream come true.