Pre-Trip Report: It's Going to be a Capitol Vacation!

[jillyb]

It’s hard to believe that this time last year we had just gotten back from our first trip to WDW. The post-WDW depression hit me hard! I was definitely hooked and was thinking of ways to get back this year. Initially, I wanted to do a Mother/Daughter trip with my oldest DD, Katie (30). When I brought it up with Clay, he mentioned he’d like to have a trip with just the two of us. So then I started thinking/planning an anniversary trip for our 7th wedding anniversary in November.

We went on the WDW website and looked at/priced various resorts. We’d stayed at Pop Century for our June 2008 trip with the girls and really liked the themeing. But, this was going to be an adults trip so, naturally, we wanted something a bit more “upscale”. LOL I was in love with Animal Kingdom Lodge and desperately wanted a savannah room. I could just picture the two of us sitting on our balcony early in the morning, sipping our coffee and watching the animals. Ahhhhhhhh…bliss! Well fiddle-dee-dee…too expensive.  Clay really liked the look of the Wilderness Lodge. Hmmmm…I could live with that! That may be doable. Then he saw Port Orleans-Riverside and declared “that’s the place”. Clay grew up in Slidell, LA so I guess this looked like home to him. He wasn’t interested in Port Orleans-French Quarter. He said he’d been there done that with the real thing. LOL I joined the November Vacation Club and then the loooonnggggggg wait began. I think when I plugged in the dates (November 13-18) it was something like a year away.

Time was crawling by. I printed out TGM’s November Least Crowded Charts s from 2008 and thought about dining choices. I read posts in the November Vacation Club of those who were planning their November trip to see what the crowds were like in comparison to TGM’s LCCs and to get ideas of things to do. I was looking forward to seeing the Christmas decorations and going at a slower pace. Clay and I talked about which parks we really wanted to spend time in. I wanted to spend more time in AK than we were able to do in June and we both wanted to spend more time in Epcot. When we had decided on POR, I wanted to go ahead and book it but Clay wanted me to hold off. I pouted a little about it but held off. Meanwhile, time was going even slower.

As the weeks turned into months, I was starting to have doubts about whether Clay and I would be able to make this trip; the finances had me worried. And, with the economy going the way it was I was even more nervous. As time progressed and we talked finances it became pretty clear we just weren’t going to be able to have our adults only trip. I knew it was the right decision but I was heartbroken.  Then, on April 6th, I was advised that the position I’d had for eight years was being eliminated and my job responsibilities would be handled in the corporate offices in New Haven, CT. It wasn’t too much of a shock as I’d seen this coming for at least a year. I was given a very reasonable severance package and I had 14 vacation days left (out of 15) for which I was paid. The one thing that came to mind was I was glad we didn’t have a WDW trip booked.

[jillyb]

In October last year I attended a three day conference in Arlington, VA. One of those days was a short day to allow time for sightseeing. I’d never been to Washington, D.C. and was excited about going. I loved it! While I was there, all I could think about was how much fun it would be to bring the girls. I decided when I got home to bring up with Clay the subject of a trip to Washington, D.C. It was late in the evening by the time I got back to my hotel. I walked my feet off and I was beat! LOL (For my souvenir I bought a fridge magnet that’s in the shape of a foot and says “I walked my feet off Washington, D.C.” LOL) Here’s a few pictures I took on that trip:



















When I got home I told Clay I would love for us to go there with the girls sometime. He agreed and said he really liked it when he went as a kid. Am I the only person who didn’t go to Washington, D.C. when I was in school?! As time wore on I kept thinking of other places to go on vacation, such as the beach and Great Wolf Lodge. A Great Wolf Lodge had just opened up about 30 minutes from our house and I thought it would be fun to do a long weekend there with the girls. When I lost my job, Clay and I put vacation plans on hold for a while. Then, one day Clay said “Go ahead and start making plans for Washington.”

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm here! I'm here!

[Charleston Princess]

I'm here, too! I am very excited because I would like to take the kids at some point to DC, and I hope to borrow lots of ideas from you!

[jenjolt]

I love Washington DC!! I can't wait to hear more and see more pictures!!! What a great trip it must have been! Last time I went I was 10 years old but I would love to go again soon!!!

[golfgal]

I am in DC now so if you have any questions, ask away.

This is my first time here so no, you aren't the only one that didn't go with school. Our kids didn't get to go with school either because we knew we would be going as a family.

[jillyb]

Originally Posted by wigdoutdismom

I'm here! I'm here!

Thanks for joining in Widgd!

Originally Posted by Charleston Princess

I'm here, too! I am very excited because I would like to take the kids at some point to DC, and I hope to borrow lots of ideas from you!

Yay! With you and Widgd here the pressure is on! Ya'll both write such good TRs. I hope I can keep ya'll entertained!

Originally Posted by jenjolt

I love Washington DC!! I can't wait to hear more and see more pictures!!! What a great trip it must have been! Last time I went I was 10 years old but I would love to go again soon!!!

I'm excited to be going back with the girls!

Originally Posted by golfgal

I am in DC now so if you have any questions, ask away.

This is my first time here so no, you aren't the only one that didn't go with school. Our kids didn't get to go with school either because we knew we would be going as a family.

I've been reading your TR and will be taking some pointers from you!

[mominwestlake]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I am taking 3 of my kids ages 7, 11, and 12 later in July along with my sister and 9 year old nephew. It's the first time for my sister and nephew. We have booked the Washington Mon. and Ford's Theater. We're staying at the Residence Inn Capitol.

I am looking forward to reading all your pre-trip planning.

[MeMom]

How is it that wigd and CP always beat me?
Those gals are always quicker than me!
I guess I'll blame it on the bum leg.

I am very interested in seeing the DC pictures. I hope to see it all in person someday.
And when I do, I can't even imagine how many pictures I will take!!!

[jillyb]

Originally Posted by mominwestlake

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I am taking 3 of my kids ages 7, 11, and 12 later in July along with my sister and 9 year old nephew. It's the first time for my sister and nephew. We have booked the Washington Mon. and Ford's Theater. We're staying at the Residence Inn Capitol.

I am looking forward to reading all your pre-trip planning.

I hope you and your family have a great trip! Please come back and post how your trip went and share some tips/pictures.

Originally Posted by MeMom

How is it that wigd and CP always beat me?
Those gals are always quicker than me!
I guess I'll blame it on the bum leg.

I am very interested in seeing the DC pictures. I hope to see it all in person someday.
And when I do, I can't even imagine how many pictures I will take!!!

Glad you're here MeMom! Those young whippersnappers are pretty fast aren't they?! I'll probably have a TON of pictures from our trip. Heck, I got a bushel just from my one day! I hope you'll get to go there one day.

[Nancy for Disney]

So glad you started a PTR. Looking forward to some more DC discussions.

Originally Posted by mominwestlake

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I am taking 3 of my kids ages 7, 11, and 12 later in July along with my sister and 9 year old nephew. It's the first time for my sister and nephew. We have booked the Washington Mon. and Ford's Theater. We're staying at the Residence Inn Capitol.

I am looking forward to reading all your pre-trip planning.

We will be there July 11-15. Staying in Alexandria.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Nancy for Disney

So glad you started a PTR. Looking forward to some more DC discussions.




We will be there July 11-15. Staying in Alexandria.

Where are you staying (which hotel)?

[jillyb]

Originally Posted by Nancy for Disney

So glad you started a PTR. Looking forward to some more DC discussions.




We will be there July 11-15. Staying in Alexandria.

Thanks for reading along! You'll have to post some of your tips/pics too!

[cristit14]

We just got back from DC today. Had a great time, but am really tired now.

[jillyb]

Originally Posted by cristit14

We just got back from DC today. Had a great time, but am really tired now.

Welcome back home! How was your trip? How many days were you there? Would love to hear some details. That's one thing I worry about our trip. I know it's ALOT of walking and I don't want to wear anybody out. I'm thinking of doing a 3/4 day somewhere during our trip but don't know if that would work.