mrsabbott
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2010
I am up this morning, drinking my coffee out of my Marauder's Map coffee mug (and wishing I had a rock cake), browsing the disboards, listening to podcasts, and mentally preparing our next vacation.
Okay, let's just be honest.. I was planning our next one before we'd even finished the first one!!
We fell in love with Universal and can't wait to go back! So.. I am starting a pre-trip report because.. we ARE going back! I changed my ticker to set it for the kids' next spring break. I'll be honest with you, we had hoped to go for fall break, but we won't be anywhere near ready to go as far as money goes. But I am going to keep track of our money saving efforts, as well as any deals we might be able come up with.
For those of you who don't know me from my last TR, I am "Mom". I am (starting this fall anyway) a PreK teacher at a private Christian school. Sadly, that doesn't pay well, but it is rewarding in other ways. I am also going back to school in the fall to finish my degree.. Let's just say that, by the time Spring Break rolls around, I will be READY for a vacation! I have the summer off with the kids and am trying to get lots done before things go crazy in the fall!
Hubs is a medically retired veteran. He is also in school and just got a job as an auto tech. The extra money will go along way to helping pay down a few bills as well as save for our vacation!
Punky is my oldest DD. She will be 10 this year. She loves school, especially math and drama club, and collecting things!
Pod is my middle DD. She will be 8 this year. She likes to read, watch cartoons, and telling silly stories. She is our quirky kid!
Boo Bear is my youngest DD. She will be 7 by the time we go on vacation. She is all about anything girly! Everything is frilly, hearts, and love in her world!
Finally, Buds is my DS. He will be 3 this year. He loves race cars and fighting with Daddy. He also has an obsession with Punky's pink "pig puff" which.. well, let's face it. It is his now. He loves that thing!
Unlike our last trip (which we were very blessed with) this will be a BUDGET VACATION! Meaning, everything will come out of our pockets and we don't have much of a budget to begin with. Hubs and I both decided that we are going to use a portion of our tax returns to buy the tickets. I will try to get the best deal that I can find and we are debating on getting AP's. I know that some people would frown on using tax returns for vacation.. but get over it! Our last vacation did our family a whole world of good!
We are ONLY going to do USO this time. We plan to do 4 days in the parks and the rest just relaxing at the hotel/resort. As much as we would LOVE to stay on property (we both think Cabana Bay is soo cool looking!!) we can only afford to stay off site. We wouldn't mind staying where we did the last time (Bahama Bay) but there are some deals to be had at Windsor Hills and I have heard nothing but good things about them. Regardless of where we stay, a kitchen and washer/dryer are a MUST for our family!!
We will breakfast before going to the parks. Lunch in the parks (we will pack water and snacks). Dinner back at the resort. We will eat at Mythos again, for sure. Hubs wants to eat at Three Broomsticks. The rest of the time will likely be counter service. We may pack sandwiches a couple of days instead, just depends on the financial situation.
Still debating on whether to stay the night somewhere halfway (leaning towards that) or driving straight through to save money. Boo Bear gets car sick sometimes and that long in a car is rough on her. Note to self: make a puke bucket to bring.. just in case.
Anyhoo.. right now we only have about $20 in our vacation fund. Not too promising. We have only one income during the summer (cheaper for me to stay home than pay for childcare for all 4 kiddos) but come fall we will get that amount up a little higher!!
No matter what, we are going BACK to the Dark Side!!
Okay, let's just be honest.. I was planning our next one before we'd even finished the first one!!
We fell in love with Universal and can't wait to go back! So.. I am starting a pre-trip report because.. we ARE going back! I changed my ticker to set it for the kids' next spring break. I'll be honest with you, we had hoped to go for fall break, but we won't be anywhere near ready to go as far as money goes. But I am going to keep track of our money saving efforts, as well as any deals we might be able come up with.
For those of you who don't know me from my last TR, I am "Mom". I am (starting this fall anyway) a PreK teacher at a private Christian school. Sadly, that doesn't pay well, but it is rewarding in other ways. I am also going back to school in the fall to finish my degree.. Let's just say that, by the time Spring Break rolls around, I will be READY for a vacation! I have the summer off with the kids and am trying to get lots done before things go crazy in the fall!
Hubs is a medically retired veteran. He is also in school and just got a job as an auto tech. The extra money will go along way to helping pay down a few bills as well as save for our vacation!
Punky is my oldest DD. She will be 10 this year. She loves school, especially math and drama club, and collecting things!
Pod is my middle DD. She will be 8 this year. She likes to read, watch cartoons, and telling silly stories. She is our quirky kid!
Boo Bear is my youngest DD. She will be 7 by the time we go on vacation. She is all about anything girly! Everything is frilly, hearts, and love in her world!
Finally, Buds is my DS. He will be 3 this year. He loves race cars and fighting with Daddy. He also has an obsession with Punky's pink "pig puff" which.. well, let's face it. It is his now. He loves that thing!
Unlike our last trip (which we were very blessed with) this will be a BUDGET VACATION! Meaning, everything will come out of our pockets and we don't have much of a budget to begin with. Hubs and I both decided that we are going to use a portion of our tax returns to buy the tickets. I will try to get the best deal that I can find and we are debating on getting AP's. I know that some people would frown on using tax returns for vacation.. but get over it! Our last vacation did our family a whole world of good!
We are ONLY going to do USO this time. We plan to do 4 days in the parks and the rest just relaxing at the hotel/resort. As much as we would LOVE to stay on property (we both think Cabana Bay is soo cool looking!!) we can only afford to stay off site. We wouldn't mind staying where we did the last time (Bahama Bay) but there are some deals to be had at Windsor Hills and I have heard nothing but good things about them. Regardless of where we stay, a kitchen and washer/dryer are a MUST for our family!!
We will breakfast before going to the parks. Lunch in the parks (we will pack water and snacks). Dinner back at the resort. We will eat at Mythos again, for sure. Hubs wants to eat at Three Broomsticks. The rest of the time will likely be counter service. We may pack sandwiches a couple of days instead, just depends on the financial situation.
Still debating on whether to stay the night somewhere halfway (leaning towards that) or driving straight through to save money. Boo Bear gets car sick sometimes and that long in a car is rough on her. Note to self: make a puke bucket to bring.. just in case.
Anyhoo.. right now we only have about $20 in our vacation fund. Not too promising. We have only one income during the summer (cheaper for me to stay home than pay for childcare for all 4 kiddos) but come fall we will get that amount up a little higher!!
No matter what, we are going BACK to the Dark Side!!