Stacybaeasm
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
Hello all! I just got back from a special trip with my 12 year old niece. And let me tell you, that 1 week was all it took to confirm that I was NEVER meant to be a parent. Honestly, I don't know how all you parents do it. Hats off to all of you. Maybe I'm set in my ways, maybe I've been on my own for too long, or maybe I truly don't have a maternal instinct. 
Any way you look at it, it was a LONG week and the only time in my life I have ever actually said "When do we leave Disney?"
First, a little background. Like most of us here, Disney World is my happy place. I lived in Florida 8 years ago for about 2.5 years. I was an annual pass holder during that time and made it up to the World once or twice a month, as time and finances allowed. When I left to move to St. Louis, I promised that I would be back on a regular basis, and I have kept that promise. I manage to get down for a week long visit once or twice a year and have kept my annual pass as a result. A few years ago, my niece asked why I loved going so much and we got to chatting about everything you could do at Disney. She's been to Magic Kingdom for a day visit twice in her life, but she didn't know about all the other stuff that was available. So, I made a rash promise on the spur of the moment - "I promise to take you and your brother for individual trips when you are old enough." Well, at the time it seemed like a great idea. Fast forward a few years and I was sitting in my brother's house around Christmas and said "So kid, do you want to go to Disney with me in May?" And thus, the promise became a reality. Of course, her little brother (she's 12 and her brother is 6) immediately said "I want to go too." So, I explained that you had to be 12 to go on the trip and he would get his own, personal trip with me when he reached the ripe old age of 12.
There was a lot more planning that went into this trip than what I usually do. Of course, fastpass plus made some of that necessary. BUT, what does a 12 year old girl want to do at Disney? I realize I ACT like I"m 12 when I'm running around the world, but, do we like the same things? How do I handle all the rides? What does she eat? Oy vey!
We were finally able to settle on a week in May (I needed to be done with school - I teach at a college) and since she is in 6th grade, I figured she could miss a little bit of school without missing a ton. SIDE NOTE - I don't say that to offend teachers. I come from a long line of educators myself. I just mean, it's easier to miss some school in elementary than it is in middle or high school. Plus, we might never have gotten to take the trip if I waited until she was done with school. Minnesota had a terrible winter and they were off school more than they went for a couple of months there. I got fast pass reservations made - all she cared about was riding the roller coasters. 
A girl after my own heart. And I had a ressie for a character meal. I gave her the choice of all the character breakfasts and she chose the princess breakfast at Akershus. 
Then, a new piece of information came my way that could be a game changer - the Star Wars Character breakfast at DHS. The kid LOVES Star Wars. Ok, lets see if I can get a reservation. Yep, not even hard to do. Gave the kid a choice and of course, bye princesses, hello Darth Vader. Oh the things I give up for the love of my niece. I also found out from my brother that the kid likes to eat - a lot. So, got the QS meal plan for us. This is not something I would normally do for myself on a trip anymore. I had gastric bypass surgery 14 months ago and just can't eat like that any more. However, now that I am down 144 pounds, Disney was certainly a lot easier to do!
Anyway, fast passes made, park days planned, breakfast with Vader ready for action, and enough food to keep her full - I think we are ready to go! Stay tuned for our adventures (and my misadventures in attempting to parent.) Oh, and just for your information, since she is not my child, and I'm all about internet security - I will continue to refer to her as the kid (don't want to reveal her name). There will also only be a few pictures posted because I don't have her parent's permission to post any of her.
Any way you look at it, it was a LONG week and the only time in my life I have ever actually said "When do we leave Disney?" First, a little background. Like most of us here, Disney World is my happy place. I lived in Florida 8 years ago for about 2.5 years. I was an annual pass holder during that time and made it up to the World once or twice a month, as time and finances allowed. When I left to move to St. Louis, I promised that I would be back on a regular basis, and I have kept that promise. I manage to get down for a week long visit once or twice a year and have kept my annual pass as a result. A few years ago, my niece asked why I loved going so much and we got to chatting about everything you could do at Disney. She's been to Magic Kingdom for a day visit twice in her life, but she didn't know about all the other stuff that was available. So, I made a rash promise on the spur of the moment - "I promise to take you and your brother for individual trips when you are old enough." Well, at the time it seemed like a great idea. Fast forward a few years and I was sitting in my brother's house around Christmas and said "So kid, do you want to go to Disney with me in May?" And thus, the promise became a reality. Of course, her little brother (she's 12 and her brother is 6) immediately said "I want to go too." So, I explained that you had to be 12 to go on the trip and he would get his own, personal trip with me when he reached the ripe old age of 12.
There was a lot more planning that went into this trip than what I usually do. Of course, fastpass plus made some of that necessary. BUT, what does a 12 year old girl want to do at Disney? I realize I ACT like I"m 12 when I'm running around the world, but, do we like the same things? How do I handle all the rides? What does she eat? Oy vey!
We were finally able to settle on a week in May (I needed to be done with school - I teach at a college) and since she is in 6th grade, I figured she could miss a little bit of school without missing a ton. SIDE NOTE - I don't say that to offend teachers. I come from a long line of educators myself. I just mean, it's easier to miss some school in elementary than it is in middle or high school. Plus, we might never have gotten to take the trip if I waited until she was done with school. Minnesota had a terrible winter and they were off school more than they went for a couple of months there. I got fast pass reservations made - all she cared about was riding the roller coasters. A girl after my own heart. And I had a ressie for a character meal. I gave her the choice of all the character breakfasts and she chose the princess breakfast at Akershus. Then, a new piece of information came my way that could be a game changer - the Star Wars Character breakfast at DHS. The kid LOVES Star Wars. Ok, lets see if I can get a reservation. Yep, not even hard to do. Gave the kid a choice and of course, bye princesses, hello Darth Vader. Oh the things I give up for the love of my niece. I also found out from my brother that the kid likes to eat - a lot. So, got the QS meal plan for us. This is not something I would normally do for myself on a trip anymore. I had gastric bypass surgery 14 months ago and just can't eat like that any more. However, now that I am down 144 pounds, Disney was certainly a lot easier to do!Anyway, fast passes made, park days planned, breakfast with Vader ready for action, and enough food to keep her full - I think we are ready to go! Stay tuned for our adventures (and my misadventures in attempting to parent.) Oh, and just for your information, since she is not my child, and I'm all about internet security - I will continue to refer to her as the kid (don't want to reveal her name). There will also only be a few pictures posted because I don't have her parent's permission to post any of her.
, or at least remember that you have to make a ROUND trip. 8 hours is much harder.
but I figured I wanted everything done so I could spend a little time with my niece before we headed to Disney. Ok, everything is packed (except for the essentials I need for the next 2 days) and we are ready to roll. I head to bed early so I am rested for the 8 hour drive. Next morning, I am up and out the door. Now, I am a stage manager by trade so I am OBSESSIVE about being on time. Even though I know my brother and his family are always late, I left right on schedule so I would be there at exactly 2pm. Of course, I had to stop at one point to use the bathroom so I was a bit freaked out that I would be there 3 minutes late, but I still figured I would beat them by at least 15 minutes. Why, why does the universe always do the opposite of what you expect? My brother calls me at 1:15, "Hey, we're here. Where are you?" Umm...still 45 minutes out. Why are you early?
We go out to the cars to move luggage around and I make sure to get the kid's insurance card and travel papers (I wanted something that said I had permission to take her out of state and something that said I had permission to get her medical treatment if necessary.) And then, the good byes. I could see the tears starting. How do I deal with this? 
We actually have a conversation for the entire rest of the ride to St. Louis. Of course I really have no understanding of what we talked about. What I can tell you is, I now know more about Pokemon then I ever thought I needed to know and I still can't tell you anything about it.
I go in to wake up the kid and get a glare like I have never seen. 
Ok, the kid is NOT a morning person. I must remember that for the future.
