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Since I bought our airfare in June, our trip has changed half a dozen times. The dates have remained the same, but the flight times were "adjusted" numerous times by Travelocity (to our benefit), hotels booked and cancelled 4 times (budget, budget, budget), packages planned and changed. It's exhausting, trying to plan a quality vacation for 5 on a budget.
But I think I've done it.
Now we're two weeks away. Two weeks. In a mere 360 hours I will be within the walls of the Happiest Place on Earth! The dream of the little girl in my avatar is coming true 30 years later. She's nearly back. And the dream is all the more special, sweeter, because I get to share that dream with those I love most, my husband and our three children.
We were booked at the Fairfield Inn with a 3 day Parkhopper package. Then optimistically I switched us to the Disneyland Hotel. Medical bills piled up and I switched us back to the Fairfield. Then my daughter, who works 1 day a week at the local Hampton Inn was able to get us a $29 rate at a new Hampton 6 miles from Disneyland. How can you beat that- and with a full spread breakfast buffet to boot?
To rent a car or not rent a car- that was our question? We live in a town that doesn't even have a stop sign, much less a traffic light. Did we really want to tackle California traffic? Not really. At the Fairfield we could walk to the park. At the Disneyland Hotel we could walk. We booked the Disneyland Express bus to run us to and from the airport to the hotels. But how to get to the ocean- which we were determined we would see? Taxi's are expensive, but we were convinced that it was worth the price NOT to drive. But when we switched from the Fairfield to the Hampton, we had to cancel everything at the travel agency and start all over again. (except the airfare, which we booked independantly for a song). Even with penalties, we were saving a huge amount of money. We were forced to admit driving was now a requirement. So the car rental was booked, and we were comforted by the hotel and transportation savings. The budget always is there, always cautioning me. Splurge on the good stuff, save where you can.
As I said, our flights were changed and changed again. Next thing I knew, instead of getting into LAX on Saturday night, we were able to arrive Saturday morning, in essence, providing us with another day of fun. What to do, what to do? We'd saved so much money on hotel and transportation, that we decided to splurge and spend a day at Sea World in San Diego with some quality time at the ocean on the way there. What a coup! Three days at Disneyland, a night at Mickey's Halloween Treat, time at the ocean, and Sea World too? Can we say dream come true and bigger than ever imagined?
The costumes have been chosen. The e-tickets printed out, with a second set printed and enveloped in case of emergency. Hotel, car and airfare- check! Free breakfast- check! Disneyland shopping cards loaded up and ready to go for food and souvenir purchaces- check! Maps and directions- check! Ride-Max downloaded and a variety of itineraries printed out and ready to go- check! Trip itinerary/schedules made up for kids and ready to print- almost done! New, serious-amature, digital camera/movie camera ready to document the trip- check! Animals scheduled for their trip to the "doggie spa"- check! (Shhhhh, we try not to say the word, kennel, if we don't have to) Teachers notified of the upcoming absence of K, T and J with homework and extra credit trip projects being organized as we speak- check! All papers, documents and miscellaneous trip stuff organized and lovingly placed within the specially bought purple organizer folder book with elastic closure- check!
What's left?
Some kids never grow up. They just become more eager.
Two weeks, friends!
But I think I've done it.
Now we're two weeks away. Two weeks. In a mere 360 hours I will be within the walls of the Happiest Place on Earth! The dream of the little girl in my avatar is coming true 30 years later. She's nearly back. And the dream is all the more special, sweeter, because I get to share that dream with those I love most, my husband and our three children.
We were booked at the Fairfield Inn with a 3 day Parkhopper package. Then optimistically I switched us to the Disneyland Hotel. Medical bills piled up and I switched us back to the Fairfield. Then my daughter, who works 1 day a week at the local Hampton Inn was able to get us a $29 rate at a new Hampton 6 miles from Disneyland. How can you beat that- and with a full spread breakfast buffet to boot?
To rent a car or not rent a car- that was our question? We live in a town that doesn't even have a stop sign, much less a traffic light. Did we really want to tackle California traffic? Not really. At the Fairfield we could walk to the park. At the Disneyland Hotel we could walk. We booked the Disneyland Express bus to run us to and from the airport to the hotels. But how to get to the ocean- which we were determined we would see? Taxi's are expensive, but we were convinced that it was worth the price NOT to drive. But when we switched from the Fairfield to the Hampton, we had to cancel everything at the travel agency and start all over again. (except the airfare, which we booked independantly for a song). Even with penalties, we were saving a huge amount of money. We were forced to admit driving was now a requirement. So the car rental was booked, and we were comforted by the hotel and transportation savings. The budget always is there, always cautioning me. Splurge on the good stuff, save where you can.
As I said, our flights were changed and changed again. Next thing I knew, instead of getting into LAX on Saturday night, we were able to arrive Saturday morning, in essence, providing us with another day of fun. What to do, what to do? We'd saved so much money on hotel and transportation, that we decided to splurge and spend a day at Sea World in San Diego with some quality time at the ocean on the way there. What a coup! Three days at Disneyland, a night at Mickey's Halloween Treat, time at the ocean, and Sea World too? Can we say dream come true and bigger than ever imagined?
The costumes have been chosen. The e-tickets printed out, with a second set printed and enveloped in case of emergency. Hotel, car and airfare- check! Free breakfast- check! Disneyland shopping cards loaded up and ready to go for food and souvenir purchaces- check! Maps and directions- check! Ride-Max downloaded and a variety of itineraries printed out and ready to go- check! Trip itinerary/schedules made up for kids and ready to print- almost done! New, serious-amature, digital camera/movie camera ready to document the trip- check! Animals scheduled for their trip to the "doggie spa"- check! (Shhhhh, we try not to say the word, kennel, if we don't have to) Teachers notified of the upcoming absence of K, T and J with homework and extra credit trip projects being organized as we speak- check! All papers, documents and miscellaneous trip stuff organized and lovingly placed within the specially bought purple organizer folder book with elastic closure- check!
What's left?
Some kids never grow up. They just become more eager.
Two weeks, friends!
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