tehSAC
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2011
Can't wait to read more! Sounds like you were trying your hardest to help everyone enjoy their trip, what a good dad!!
Love the pics!
Dawn
Thank you! I wish there was more to add, but this is the end of my report.
Thank you for your trip report. I love how you have been able to roll with it and adapt after a speed bump (and still be papa bear protecting your family). Not everyone can do so with grace - you have a gift.
After reading these boards, I agree with you about the lack of value. My family has been 3 times (in 2009, 2013, and 2014) and after the last trip with FPP, we decided we were done due to all the hassles.
We've done two-week camping adventures since the youngest was 3 (potty trained him at Yosemite) and some of our great memories are of reading the Narnia books by the fire as more and more kids crept over from neighboring sites to listen.
We have since enjoyed UO a few times. Then, in 2019, we went to Portugal over spring break with good airfares and a reasonably priced VRBO condo with an awesome rooftop terrace and I was THROUGH with theme parks. There was so much to do and see for less than what we would have spent at WDW. We have focused on independent travel with the kids since.
Our last trip, 12/18/21 to 1/1/22 was to Maui. Two weeks, OMG. Granted, this was our costliest trip at $10,000 (all in) for 6 people, but we hit Christmas and NYE which is about the most expensive time you can go. We also alternated beach or hiking days with a luau, a boat excursion, ziplining, and snorkeling. It was heaven because I didn't feel like I needed a vacation from my vacation when I got home. I did a lot of planning finding deals on everything, but by September, it was set it and forget it. We ate breakfast and lunches in the condo (or had a picnic), and then ate out for dinners almost every night. Two fancy dinners, some moderate dinners, and the occasional food truck.
Please continue planning wonderful trips and memories for your kids. The beauty of this is that you can tailor these trips to meet the needs of your family, whatever those needs are at the time. The trips don't always have to be the same. If you plan and prepare like you did for this trip, your humor and quick thinking will make them GREAT. My kids laugh now and say "forced family fun - they'll thank you later" as they roll their eyes, but they do thank me, at least the older ones do.
~ Marci
I'm not sure it's a gift, but thank you for the kind words. We enjoyed our time, made memories, but there is so much more in the world to see. A yearly trip to Orlando just doesn't work for our family. Again the parks will always hold a special place in my heart, and memories will last forever.
Now Maui.... That is a trip I would love to do. Maybe I start planning that one next.