"This is Not the Trip You're Looking For" TR May/June 2011 - COMPLETE About This Page:

[Linnynad]

GREAT ending to the trip with Ohana's. That is ALWAYS our last stop too. I love the food there, and it comes to me...even better!

I'm really happy you did write this TR and it seems as if it did make you feel a little better about the whole trip overall.

I think that is so sweet of Kevin to send you on SWW next year, AND the possibility to spend 8 days at the POLY!!! I think you must try to do that. You all seemed to have gotten into the "let's take a break mid-day" and the Poly is great for that. I think one night on the beach, with the girls, FAB in hand, watching the fireworks with Cindy's castle in the background will make Kevin feel like he made the right decision!!!

Thanks so much for sharing this TR and tell that little ballerina girl of mine to keep up her ballet during the summer too

[JoJayMom]

Thank you - I love this one, too. Kelley has such a sweet spirit - and she loves Disney so much, all that just comes through when she's there.

Well please tell her, I know she has a sweet spirit - because Kelly is my name too and I Disney very much too!!

Thanks for sharing your trip report with us! Like I said our family has experienced the same feelings and "moments" while down there......and I was determined not to write a TR, but now I wished I had of........Thanks for giving me back some Disney Magic

[Miss Alaska]

I am so sad that your report is over. We have 2 daughters and I could relate in so many ways to you and your family. Your girls seem so sweet to eachother. I loved the photo of Cory and Kelly holding hands... precious and priceless! I really enjoyed reading about your adventures! Thanks so much for taking the time to write and share!

[ilovedisney247]

This was truly a great trip report Cathy! I'm glad you shared it with us! I hope we get another one soon! It is really interesting to see how each family deals with their issues. I know we had a "bad" trip last Oct and I couldn't bear to write it up. I still call it the 7 stitches and a concussion trip. I was a miserable person the whole time. We will hopefully erase that trip from memory with this Oct's trip!

[mcc0313]

As always I love sharing in your families adventures at WDW and I am so glad that you decided to write this report, I could totally understand your frustration at certain points in the trip, but I also read so many wonderful memories as well, ones that might have been a bit blurry during those first few days back home.

You have such a beautiful family and I still cannot get over how much the girls have grown, and I can understand the feeling of them growing out of the princess stage, but if it is any consolidation Jasmine whose first trip was past the princess stage and was definitely non-princess for many trips has refound her "princess love"....one of her biggest requests this trip "seeing Rapunzel". So while they might get past that I want to be a princess...I think that even when they do not admit it they will always carry a little "princess"in them no matter what age

I am so excited to hear that future trip plans are already in the talks, I love the idea of the Poly but then again I have to say I am partial on the Epcot resort area...the Poly was always on the top of my list until last year when we took our lesiurely walks to Epcot. Would I still love staying at the Poly....of course, but there is something about strolling out on the Boardwalk and walking around the lake early in the morning that is just heavenly. I think Kevin would love it (and so would the girls).

Hope to hear more planning news soon!!! Thanks again for sharing another wonderful adventure with us.

[MosyBliss]

Great trip report...it made me laugh and it made me cry.

I really understand what you mean about the girls growing up too fast. We are taking our girls for Christmas 2012 and it hit me the other day that they will be 8, 10 and 11 when we go! The last time we went they were 4,6 and 8 and that seems like yesterday. I just want to keep them at that princess stage forever...but I guess that isn't and option.
I really loved how you seemed to learn about yourself on this trip. I have had several of those kinds of vacations...where they turn out so different that you expected but you learn and grow so much and they are often the ones with the best memories.

[chezp]

I'm really glad that writing this helped you to remember the good times during your trip. I think it probably was like our escape from Egypt one, hard to start and re-live, but good for you to do it.

I've really enjoyed it and it's been a pleasant change to read such a refreshingly honest report and to know that it doesn't always go right even at the most magical place on earth.

[nalexander]

Thanks for sharing your TR.

[Grammy Grumpy]

Great ending!! Now may the planning and decisions begin!!! Keep us posted with your next Pre-TR!

[lazanya]

Thanks for taking us along on your adventures Cathy! I enjoyed your TR and so glad you decided to write it despite some of the downs you experienced. I still think your trip was magical regardless!

[Nimros]

Originally Posted by Pixar Pixie

What a great trip report. I want to thank you for writing and for your honesty. I've learned a great deal from your report that is going to help our upcoming trip be that much more enjoyable (we leave in 6 days, yikes!).

Again, great job and thank you!

Thank you!! I'm wishing you the most magical trip ever!

Originally Posted by buzzspal2

Thanks for taking us along.

Originally Posted by B.M.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us; I really enjoyed hearing all about it. I look forward to hearing about your next adventure!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Great final thoughts Cathy! Thank you for sharing. I hope you get to experience SWW again sometime. for that decision and for the 8 day deluxe stay!

Thanks for coming along with us! And I will definitely be at SWW again - I want the chance to do it right.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Thank you for the TR and the final thoughts! From the outside, one thing that came through loud and clear is that you have a loving family who enjoy spending time together. The photos of the girls holding hands, all of you smiling together-- Priceless!

Originally Posted by kingfamily1129

what a great TR! I learned alot of your experiences and will bring them into my own trip when I go!! I think your girls will always love Disney, just in a different sort of way now...And when they get older, they'll begin to see Disney through the eyes of an adult, and someday, a parent. So you have that to look forward to! Good luck with planning your next trip!!

Thank you for reminding me that a family that loves each other is really what it's all about. And that's why Walt wanted to create Disneyland in the first place, isn't it?

You're right - things always change and at least I get a front row seat to see all the changes that will occur in the girls' lives. But thinking about seeing my girls as parents - yikes! That means I'll be a grandma!

[Nimros]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Family

I am so glad that you wrote up this trip report. And I'm super glad that by writing it up, you were able to work through the bad memories and get to all the good stuff that happened The same thing happened with mine when I originally wrote it up soon after coming home for something else.

Thank you for sharing your experiences

It's good to have someone who understands. I haven't had a chance to get to your older TRs yet, but I will.

Originally Posted by lexiemom

Thank you for deciding to share the good, the bad and the ugly with us! I really enjoyed following along and I am glad that you were able to see more of the good while writing your TR. Good luck with your decisions on future trips!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by clio

Great trip report. I can understand the driving part. We drive down fron Ohio every year. My daughter does it twice a year. Her boyfriend and her go down for Star Wars Weekends every year. I got to go once. I like fall at Dianey much better than summer but that's me. Your girls have gotten so big.
Liz

Ohio would be a looonnngg drive. Do you drive over two days or do it all at once?

Originally Posted by KMB733

Great Finals thoughts!! making the decision between WWoHP and SWW! And I agree that a longer stay at Disney makes it a lot easier to both enjoy the parks and get in a little time to relax! I'll be looking out for a PTR
Thank you for sharing your trip with us!!

Thanks Kathy. It will be a difficult decision, to be sure. I think the deciding factor may be money and time this year. I just have to keep telling myself both SWW and WWoHP will still be there the next year!

[Nimros]

Originally Posted by Linnynad

GREAT ending to the trip with Ohana's. That is ALWAYS our last stop too. I love the food there, and it comes to me...even better!

I'm really happy you did write this TR and it seems as if it did make you feel a little better about the whole trip overall.

I think that is so sweet of Kevin to send you on SWW next year, AND the possibility to spend 8 days at the POLY!!! I think you must try to do that. You all seemed to have gotten into the "let's take a break mid-day" and the Poly is great for that. I think one night on the beach, with the girls, FAB in hand, watching the fireworks with Cindy's castle in the background will make Kevin feel like he made the right decision!!!

I read your post to Kevin and he's like, "See - she's right!" Plus I think he has a wild notion that he could sneak down and have breakfast at Ohana every morning.

Thanks so much for sharing this TR and tell that little ballerina girl of mine to keep up her ballet during the summer too

I also read this to Corinne. She wanted me to let you know she went to an all-day ballet camp in June and she is more than ready for classes to start back up again in August. She's bound and determined to be a Party Girl this year for Nutcracker - and next year, she'll be old enough to audition for Clara. So lots to look forward to.

[Nimros]

Originally Posted by JoJayMom

Well please tell her, I know she has a sweet spirit - because Kelly is my name too and I Disney very much too!!

Thanks for sharing your trip report with us! Like I said our family has experienced the same feelings and "moments" while down there......and I was determined not to write a TR, but now I wished I had of........Thanks for giving me back some Disney Magic

Aww!! I have to tell you, I read your post to Kelley and I wish you could have seen her face; she was smiling ear to ear!

It's never to late to write up that TR, you know. Even if you never post any of it, at least you'll have it down on paper and be able to look back on it all.

Originally Posted by Miss Alaska

I am so sad that your report is over. We have 2 daughters and I could relate in so many ways to you and your family. Your girls seem so sweet to eachother. I loved the photo of Cory and Kelly holding hands... precious and priceless! I really enjoyed reading about your adventures! Thanks so much for taking the time to write and share!

I'm so glad to see your post and the beautiful photo of your daughters with Belle. They look like they might be a bit older than my girls - and seeing them so happy to be standing there with her makes me feel much better. I think we are definitely going to make sure we have 'Princess' time next trip.

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

This was truly a great trip report Cathy! I'm glad you shared it with us! I hope we get another one soon! It is really interesting to see how each family deals with their issues. I know we had a "bad" trip last Oct and I couldn't bear to write it up. I still call it the 7 stitches and a concussion trip. I was a miserable person the whole time. We will hopefully erase that trip from memory with this Oct's trip!

Geez Heather - here I am, trying to remember if you mentioned or wrote anything at all about that trip...! Is that a case of "misery loved company?"
Well - here's to a magical and perfect October trip for you!

Originally Posted by MosyBliss

Great trip report...it made me laugh and it made me cry.

I really understand what you mean about the girls growing up too fast. We are taking our girls for Christmas 2012 and it hit me the other day that they will be 8, 10 and 11 when we go! The last time we went they were 4,6 and 8 and that seems like yesterday. I just want to keep them at that princess stage forever...but I guess that isn't and option.
I really loved how you seemed to learn about yourself on this trip. I have had several of those kinds of vacations...where they turn out so different that you expected but you learn and grow so much and they are often the ones with the best memories.

Thank you! Ohh, it's so hard to see them grow up! I'm always feeling guilty that we didn't take the girls when they were younger so everything would have been much more real and magical for them. They were 9 and 7 for their first trip, and even though they were totally immersed in it all, they still were old enough not to truly 'believe' like most girls (and boys) do when they are younger than that.

The good thing is, they still love Disney and want to go back again and again.

Your girls are beautiful, by the way.

Originally Posted by chezp

I'm really glad that writing this helped you to remember the good times during your trip. I think it probably was like our escape from Egypt one, hard to start and re-live, but good for you to do it.

I've really enjoyed it and it's been a pleasant change to read such a refreshingly honest report and to know that it doesn't always go right even at the most magical place on earth.

Thank you, Cheryl. That is high praise coming from you. I wonder how this trip (and yours) will look to us in years to come?

Originally Posted by mcc0313

As always I love sharing in your families adventures at WDW and I am so glad that you decided to write this report, I could totally understand your frustration at certain points in the trip, but I also read so many wonderful memories as well, ones that might have been a bit blurry during those first few days back home.

You know, when I first started this TR, I thought no one would want to read it if it wasn't all happy and good. And then I remembered one of your TRs where you had some 'challenges' with family members, and how I sympathized (and agaonized!) with you on some of the decision you had to make. And I remembered that it was one of my favorite TRs because of the honesty and the how you chose to view what was happening. So thank YOU.

You have such a beautiful family and I still cannot get over how much the girls have grown, and I can understand the feeling of them growing out of the princess stage, but if it is any consolidation Jasmine whose first trip was past the princess stage and was definitely non-princess for many trips has refound her "princess love"....one of her biggest requests this trip "seeing Rapunzel". So while they might get past that I want to be a princess...I think that even when they do not admit it they will always carry a little "princess"in them no matter what age

You are right about this. I know last trip when I 'made' them stop to see Sleeping Beauty, they didn't want to at first - but then when they finally got up to Aurora and could talk to her and give her a hug, they were all about the Princesses again.

I am so excited to hear that future trip plans are already in the talks, I love the idea of the Poly but then again I have to say I am partial on the Epcot resort area...the Poly was always on the top of my list until last year when we took our lesiurely walks to Epcot. Would I still love staying at the Poly....of course, but there is something about strolling out on the Boardwalk and walking around the lake early in the morning that is just heavenly. I think Kevin would love it (and so would the girls).

Hope to hear more planning news soon!!! Thanks again for sharing another wonderful adventure with us.

So - to be fair, I read Kevin YOUR post about the Epcot resorts, and he was like, "Yeah, I could just walk over to Epcot whenever I wanted and you guys could go wherever you wanted..." So now he his mulling over the advantages of all the deluxe resorts! We'll see what he thinks when it's time to actually book a room. Maybe we should do a split stay....

[mmoores2]

I enjoyed reading your trip report! Can't wait to hear about your next adventure!!