The "Penguins don't have to hold their tummies in" Mother-Daughter Trip
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minniejunebug · 08-22-2007, 09:54 PM

Hi! While I am new to actually writing in these forums, I have been a quiet fan for so many years that I feel as if I know you all! I have a “shrinking nest” here at home, with 3 off in college, and my “baby” in her second year of high school. I actually do not consider myself older, but that could just be the senility setting in. My DH will be 50 this December, but I still have a ways to go to reach that momentous occasion! When I asked him if he would be upset if I planned a “little something” to mark the occasion, he replied, “As long as we are at WDW, you have my blessing”. But that’s a whole other trip-in-planning!

For this trip, a short but very sweet 4 nights, it will be just Emily and I. This is our second, Mother-Daughter trip, but the first one that she is actually “out of uterus” for. Emily maintains that it is her FIRST Mother – Daughter trip. Feel free to go either way.

Primary Starlet – DD – Emily (15)

Emily LOVES Tinkerbell. She feels that Tink was probably a last child also, and is sympathetic to her
mood swings and small outbursts of temper. She took a Child Psychology course last year
and analyzed Tink for her final project. The teacher was delighted, ( She “crossed over” to the
Disney side several years ago ), and she used the paper as her class example…We Disney folks seem
to be able to subliminally affect scores of people around us in unexpected ways.

Co-Starring (But I must add that without me, the Primary Starlet would actually NOT be in this report)
Me…Jaine….(40 something) – I freelance with children’s stories, and quilt for fun ( Who doesn’t?)

I grew up on Disney. I still have those old Gulf Gasoline record albums that you would get if you
filled up your tank with Gulf gas. I think my favorite was “Disney’s Happiest Songs”. I LOVED that
album! My eventual goal is to visit all the Disney theme parks…and to find nice looking lettuce that
does not cost $2.50 a head…

This trip came about because while we have done the MVMCP several times, we have NEVER done
MNSSHP. Emily feels that this could be the pivotal event of her tender youth, and has asked quite
nicely for a few years if we could possibly go. This year, I was glancing at the school calendar, and
noticed a teacher work-day on September 21. My DH had traveled quite a lot this year, so we had
lots of frequent flyer miles. I was able to find coverage for work, so my last puzzle piece was the
lodging.

We are DVC members, and I was really curious about the AKLV (I know, I don’t think that is
the correct abbreviation, but it seems to work). Since it was just the 2 of us going, I called to see if a
studio might be available. The CM who spoke with me seemed hesitant to look, and mentioned
that she had been finding no availability there all morning, and people were getting quite upset with
her.. I assured her that I was going to be non-hysterical if there was no room at the inn, as it were,
and she could feel safe if she told me “No”. She came back SO excited, I actually thought for a minute
that they had decided I was SO worthy of a Dream that I was getting my entire stay in Cinderella’s
CASTLE suite! Shockingly, that was not actually the case…BUT they did have a Savannah View Studio!
Cool! I calmly ( picture a grown woman dancing around with 2 surprised cats trying to avoid getting
crushed ) took the studio.

Then, about a week later, DH mentioned that IF I was willing to spend an extra night, we could actually
fly into our home airport, instead of driving 2 hours to North Carolina. Oh, the sacrifices that we
women make for the comfort of our husbands!

I called DVC, wondering if my luck would hold out
and we could grab another night. Nope, someone in a neighboring state heard me when I got that
first reservation, yelled to their spouse, “There’s villas available at AKL in September! Quick! Call!!”
and so I was FORCED to suffer with a 1 BR at BWV….Will my selflessness never cease?!

So, now I just need to make Emily’s Tink costume AGAIN (the first try apparently was a little too short…
“MOM! I look like hootchy Tinkerbell! This would fit my Build –A-Bear! You can see my….”), and my
penguin costume (I could not help myself. I saw “March of the Penguins”, and I am in awe of the
little birdlets….their bravery, their stamina, their determination…and I won’t have to hold my
stomach in all night like all the Princesses will be doing). If you see this terribly odd couple flitting
and waddling down Main Street, say “Hi!” . I would love to meet any Passporters who will be there
on September 21st!

Next up: “Honey, have you considered the Dining Plan for this trip?” “Why are you making this SO easy?”