[jhoshowski]

Right off the bat, I am going to get the disclaimer out of the way. I have never written a trip report, and having read the marvelous ones that are posted here every day, I am nervous. So please be kind. If you find it too boring to read, please don’t feel obligated (just don’t tell me)!

First off, the introductions.
Me – Jennifer (35). Certifiable Disney nut. Former travel agency supervisor, now mostly stay-at-home mom – I work a few nights a week at a local pharmacy. I have been to WDW more times than I can count, but I can never get enough.
DH – Fred (39). Computer security analyst. Fancy talk for surfs the web and takes long lunches. Had one trip a long time ago with his family. This will be his third since we have been married.
DS9 – Ethan. Almost as big as me! A super smart kid (he gets straight A’s), with a sensitive side. An awesome baseball player and golfer. Has been to WDW four times.
DS4 - Nicholas. Used to be super shy, but preschool cured that last year. He is going again this year - same teacher, so it should go well again. A real comedian – you’ll see in my pictures!! He has been to WDW twice.

This trip came about because, well, it was time. Our last trip was December 2005, and we have been going every two years or so. Around July 2006, I started getting the urge to plan. We decided to try a trip with just the four of us – we have always gone with a large group of family. They like to camp, which we did with them. This time a friend of Fred’s at work offered up his timeshare near DTD – sorry, the name of it escapes me. All we would need to pay was $500 for the week, to help cover the association fees. In return, we would have use of a 1400 square foot, 2 bedroom condo. We chose the dates October 20 – 27, 2007. We wanted to attend MNSSHP (Fred is a big Halloween fan), miss Columbus Day weekend, and be home for Halloween. These dates seemed perfect.

Well, I think we know where this is going, being the “Disney nuts” we all are. Seven nights wouldn’t be enough – we needed at least eight. So, I decided we would add on a night at a value resort onsite at the beginning of the trip. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wanted our first trip with just the four of us to be magical. I wanted to stay onsite! Not only that, I wanted the dining plan! So, I drew up a price comparison with a little “creative math”, and showed Fred that it wouldn’t cost that much more when all was said and done (the AAA discount helps), and he was on board.

Up next. . . choosing a hotel, and ch-ch-ch-changes. . .