Jay2009
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2009
Ok, so I never intended to write a trip report, never mind a pre-trip report. But as the days count down to my next trip, I find myself thinking more and more about it, and thinking about my last trip, and ok
my next one too. So Im going to give this a shot. And if I fail miserably I will deny ever doing it to my dying day.
Introductions
So first, well start with introductions. This is where it gets slightly complicated. Since a lot of this trip is influenced by my last I should introduce everyone who was on the last trip, as they will most likely be mentioned. So for the last trip it was Me, a 28 year old awesome guy still working on completing my bachelors degree (paying for it myself out of pocket has caused me to need to take semesters off here and there, but I should finish within a few semesters) and working one full time job and several part time jobs to afford vacations like these. I started coming to the disboards last year in preparation for my trip and my name is Jay. So as you can see by my username, I am incredibly inventive and a creative person. I hear you shouting will you come up with a neat username like that for me? well no, friends, you see inspiration only struck once and hasnt been seen again. Im anxiously awaiting its return. I suppose I should also share that Im slightly sarcastic.
Also joining me on last years journey was my mother, my father, and my niece Cailin who was 5 at the time we took her. I wanted to see WDW through her eyes and experience her seeing things for the first time. I remember the first time I went I was about ten years old and I had a great time, but it seems some of the magic is extra special for a child. I would find out if this theory proved to be true.
Here's a picture of Cailin with Fronteir Donald:
On this current trip it will be myself and my mother, as my father only had a certain number of vacation days available and decided a fishing trip with his friends was better than a trip to disney world. However, now that that trip is over and ours is approaching, I think he is getting a little jealous. This is the man who taught me you make choice and live with the consequences, so he can live with it. Im also not really upset that my father isnt coming, hes the commando style type of person and would hurry us all up to follow his insane pace only to make us come to a complete halt so he could get a picture of something, and then start us back up on our crazy pace. My life is a hundred miles an hour (especially on the highway, Im usually running late) so on vacation I want a more relaxed pace. With him at home, this can happen.
The Planning
So I decided I wanted to go on vacation one particularly bad day at work. Ill admit, I get paid bi-weekly and each pay day I open up my pay stub and look at the amount of vacation time Ive accrued. I log into my bank account and check to make sure the direct deposit went through and look at the total in the bank. Then I play imaginary vacation where I total up how many days I could take off and where I could afford to go. This 10 to 15 minute break every other week is something I really look forward to, as sad as it may seem.
My mother had some health problems this year and when she came through it all I told her Id take her on vacation anywhere she wanted to go. I researched some great cruises (never have been on one, but would love to try one) and looked up some other great destinations. My mother told me she wanted to go to Disney World again. I should have been surprised. My mother isnt the type who goes to a restaurant and tries something new. Shes the type of person who orders what she knows she likes. I guess this was no different. She knows she likes it there, so thats where she wants to go. Ill have to go on a cruise some other time.
So now that we have the destination set, I pick the dates, September 23rd to October 1st. Well originally it was supposed to be until the 2nd but my friend planned her wedding that day and I just plain forgot so I have to be back in time for that. So October 1st it is. If I remember correctly this the anniversary of the opening of MK and Epcot. Seems like a good time to be there, even if its the last day were there.
On our last trip we stayed at pop century. It was fine for its purpose, a place to sleep. The bus system was good and the decorations were cute. But the room was small. This time I want to stay in a bigger room with a more adult feel and maybe a little quieter. So doing some research Ive decided the French Quarter would be a great place to stay.
You know this is all coming along so easily. The dates, the hotel, the oh no. The travel. I live in New England. A suburb of Boston. Driving in a car with my mother would not work, she doesnt like to drive in traffic, rain or at night. So that would leave me to make the whole drive by myself and she likes to offer suggestions on how I could be a better driver which usually include slow down . So thats not going to work. But I hate flying. Its so final. You get on the plane and you have no control. I dont like that. But its the most practical I guess, so thats what were doing. I wonder if I can get my doctor to prescribe me something to keep me nice and sedated while I fly. Thats all I want, a little sedation is that really too much to ask?
I decided to bite the bullet and booked a flight on Jet Blue, I really hope I get a flight with a surly flight attendant who deploys the slide after cursing out all the passengers. That would really make the experience all worth it.
Introductions
So first, well start with introductions. This is where it gets slightly complicated. Since a lot of this trip is influenced by my last I should introduce everyone who was on the last trip, as they will most likely be mentioned. So for the last trip it was Me, a 28 year old awesome guy still working on completing my bachelors degree (paying for it myself out of pocket has caused me to need to take semesters off here and there, but I should finish within a few semesters) and working one full time job and several part time jobs to afford vacations like these. I started coming to the disboards last year in preparation for my trip and my name is Jay. So as you can see by my username, I am incredibly inventive and a creative person. I hear you shouting will you come up with a neat username like that for me? well no, friends, you see inspiration only struck once and hasnt been seen again. Im anxiously awaiting its return. I suppose I should also share that Im slightly sarcastic.
Also joining me on last years journey was my mother, my father, and my niece Cailin who was 5 at the time we took her. I wanted to see WDW through her eyes and experience her seeing things for the first time. I remember the first time I went I was about ten years old and I had a great time, but it seems some of the magic is extra special for a child. I would find out if this theory proved to be true.
Here's a picture of Cailin with Fronteir Donald:
On this current trip it will be myself and my mother, as my father only had a certain number of vacation days available and decided a fishing trip with his friends was better than a trip to disney world. However, now that that trip is over and ours is approaching, I think he is getting a little jealous. This is the man who taught me you make choice and live with the consequences, so he can live with it. Im also not really upset that my father isnt coming, hes the commando style type of person and would hurry us all up to follow his insane pace only to make us come to a complete halt so he could get a picture of something, and then start us back up on our crazy pace. My life is a hundred miles an hour (especially on the highway, Im usually running late) so on vacation I want a more relaxed pace. With him at home, this can happen.
The Planning
So I decided I wanted to go on vacation one particularly bad day at work. Ill admit, I get paid bi-weekly and each pay day I open up my pay stub and look at the amount of vacation time Ive accrued. I log into my bank account and check to make sure the direct deposit went through and look at the total in the bank. Then I play imaginary vacation where I total up how many days I could take off and where I could afford to go. This 10 to 15 minute break every other week is something I really look forward to, as sad as it may seem.
My mother had some health problems this year and when she came through it all I told her Id take her on vacation anywhere she wanted to go. I researched some great cruises (never have been on one, but would love to try one) and looked up some other great destinations. My mother told me she wanted to go to Disney World again. I should have been surprised. My mother isnt the type who goes to a restaurant and tries something new. Shes the type of person who orders what she knows she likes. I guess this was no different. She knows she likes it there, so thats where she wants to go. Ill have to go on a cruise some other time.
So now that we have the destination set, I pick the dates, September 23rd to October 1st. Well originally it was supposed to be until the 2nd but my friend planned her wedding that day and I just plain forgot so I have to be back in time for that. So October 1st it is. If I remember correctly this the anniversary of the opening of MK and Epcot. Seems like a good time to be there, even if its the last day were there.
On our last trip we stayed at pop century. It was fine for its purpose, a place to sleep. The bus system was good and the decorations were cute. But the room was small. This time I want to stay in a bigger room with a more adult feel and maybe a little quieter. So doing some research Ive decided the French Quarter would be a great place to stay.
You know this is all coming along so easily. The dates, the hotel, the oh no. The travel. I live in New England. A suburb of Boston. Driving in a car with my mother would not work, she doesnt like to drive in traffic, rain or at night. So that would leave me to make the whole drive by myself and she likes to offer suggestions on how I could be a better driver which usually include slow down . So thats not going to work. But I hate flying. Its so final. You get on the plane and you have no control. I dont like that. But its the most practical I guess, so thats what were doing. I wonder if I can get my doctor to prescribe me something to keep me nice and sedated while I fly. Thats all I want, a little sedation is that really too much to ask?
I decided to bite the bullet and booked a flight on Jet Blue, I really hope I get a flight with a surly flight attendant who deploys the slide after cursing out all the passengers. That would really make the experience all worth it.