[tinker_me_happy]

DD Alicia is a dancer. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old. When she was 10 we left the dance studio she had been with for 7 years to follow a teacher we both loved who was opening her own studio. 2001-2002 dance year Alicia has her first solo! November 2001 Alicia breaks her leg . We go to dance every single day for the 12 weeks she is unable to use her leg. She cries the entire 25 minute ride home every time. In May she asks if we can go to Nationals if she wins Title. Since the studio doesn’t go to Nationals, and they are being held in Virginia Beach I promised her I would take her. I had driven to VA to visit my sister with just the kids, so why not.

She was first runner up. Alas, no Nationals. Jump ahead to 2007. After years of being first runner up (yes years!) Alicia Finally wins Title! Though I hadn’t promised after the first couple of years, how could I say no now? Only this year Nationals are in Orlando Florida! We convince the studio owner and a few other girls to join us and off we go!

My dear friend has been to Disney several times. After torturing her to the point where she finally agreed to come with us to Nationals, she said, “Well if we are going to Orlando, we have to go to Disney!” NO COMPLAINTS from me! We only had two and a half days at the World. Day one we had an ADR for Sci-Fi Café for lunch at 2:10pm. I waited outside with the girls (my DD Alicia and my Dfr’s DD Haley (12) ). DARN that DVC kiosk just sitting there! So I get to talking to the very nice man just standing there minding his own business (yea, right!). I convince my DFr Pauline that we should go on the tour. She says NO we don’t have time! BUT the four instant fast passes (each) we would be given to compensate us for our time sounded very appealing. After lunch we took the tour. Returned to the park, and we were able to get just about everything done we wanted to that day, including Fantasmic! We saved the FPs for our last day when we would only have a half a day.

I was convinced to buy DVC. The selling point that had me hooked? Nothing anyone at Disney would probably ever think to use as a selling point. A way to FORCE my family to go on a vacation TOGETHER! I could afford the monthly payments myself, and with just a little bit of OT a month, it wouldn't impact the budget at all. Heck, I worked years of OT for everyone else, why not do something for me for a change! It took quite a bit of convincing before DH agreed, but I finally wore him out and we purchased in August 2007. Well now that we have a Disney time share, I guess we HAVE to go! Again, and again and again!

DD Alicia will be graduating from HS June 1. Mom finally gets to take her family to Disney World, and Alicia is thrilled her graduation vacation is going back to see the Mouse!

to be continued...
BUT in case you were wondering...How did Alicia do at Nationals? She won Senior Title!! And her three duets took highest score for all duo/trios (first, second and third place!) They had so much fun the teacher decided to take the entire studio to Nationals again this year. But sadly it is being held in Philly not Orlando.