The "Every theme park BUT Disney (this time) Spring Break, family vacation, cheerleading competition tour!!! PTA" **Updated 5/24** COMPLETE About This Page:

[Angileyze1]

Here's our background as I have NEVER written a Trip Report before.
Who's going: Me (Lisa) 37 - Feeling sad about missing Disney but not so much during Spring Break Time. I AM TINKERBELLE.

DH- 38. The cynical one who has very little knowledge about this trip due to not wanting to help me plan except to tell him when it is. Think GRUMPY.

DD- 16. The cheerleader. The reason we actually HAVE to go on this little adventure. She's very special as she's autistic and an all-star cheerleader at the same time. Think BELLE (I think she looks most like her)

DS- 14. Hard to describe this one. He's my athletic, talented, high spirited one. He wants to be a Marine like his parents. (more later) Think PETER PAN.

Ok it started months ago. I couldn't decide on doing another year of cheering or not. DH was against it because of the cost associated with all-star cheerleading. (approx 6-7 thousand a year) I did it anyway.

One of her competitions is at the Sun Dome in Tampa on the weekend of April 17th -18th. Well, her coaches decided that instead of past comps that we had to rush back for practices, they'd let us have a week free of practices for vacations. That was all it took! I started planning. It looked like it would be a mess with my promotion requiring training and me going in the middle of, and also there's this little matter of the fact that the children's natural father lives in Florida and they would want to meet him for the first time in 14 years. Oh yeah and dealing with DH and this incredible pessimistic attitude of his.

Hang on folks, its going to be a wild ride.

[Ginns1]

What is it with MEN! I sat Mark down last night to tell him about the ADR's for September but when his eyes glazed over I gave up! Enjoy your trip!

[Colexis Mom]

Glad you're writing a report More please

[janicelovesmickey]

always looking forward to TR's great start

[B.M.]

Can't wait to hear how it all turns out!

[RobDVC]

Thanks for starting a trip report! I can't wait to read all about it.

[nconover]

This is sounding like it's not going to be your every day trip report. I Love it! Make sure you update us upon your return! Have a happy trip!

[Lemap760]

Sounds like a fun trip is planned.

[bsblady01]

more please

[DyanKJ130]

Great start! Can't wait to hear more

[MGW]

Very Interesting! Please keep us posted!

[Angileyze1]

OK now for some background info and itenerary plans. I work at a restaurant that I love. I started there on day 1 when it opened two years ago. In just 2 short years I went through the ranks from server to Manager- in-Training that's where I am now. Its about an 11-12 week program. I'm half way though. I was worried that the training program was going to get in the way, but to back up, I think I'm getting ahead of myself.

DD is Autistic. She is high functioning however and when she was around 10 we enrolled her in a rec cheering program for the social piece she needed so badly. It went rough at first with the sensory issues, she wouldn't touch the other girls and didn't want them touching her, much less be able to do any stunting. We stuck with it for 4 years as her coach was a saint and made sure she was treated like everyone else. But her dream was to be able to be a part of our local all-star team PLANET CHEER and be able to tumble & travel nationally. This was going to be difficult! She couldn't even do a cartwheel. Fast forward again. Her coaches are a pair of sisters who believe in a gym that is like a family. They worked with her and worked with her. First year wasn't easy, with the Autism she was usually either 1 beat ahead or behind. But, she was doing it. And a cartwheel, and a roundoff. By second season, she was determined to be better and taught herself to dance to the beat of the music by doing my "Sweating to the Oldies" dvd's! She even learned a backhandspring. Her second year the team was so good, I think we only got second place one time by less than a point. All the other competitions they won, and many National Titles. My baby was doing it!

We knew with my promotion to manager, that if I signed her up this year, it would have to be the last. I can't travel like that anymore with the job. I had been holding out for a Florida trip. I was back and forth until I heard the teams would be traveling to Tampa. I signed up and started making plans.

I knew almost right away Disney would be a no go due to the Spring Break crowds. We've been planning to go for 10-14 days anyway the first time, and I knew we'd only have a week. Not enough for MY first timers!!! So we started planning AROUND Disney figuring that when we DO get to go, we won't be tempted to do all the side trips.

My DH is the kids' step daddy. He's been there since the kids were really young. I moved back here in 1993 when my son was only 2 months old. Their dad lives in Florida and has never had much to do with them since he has 2 other kids from a prev marriage and he knew with paying child sup on 4 kids, he wouldn't be able to afford to have them come down and him come up so his idea was for them to grow up more stable without him. MY idea was a long distance relationship would have been better than none, but oh well whatever.

Forward to now. DS will be 15 in August. His dad did make it up once. The first winter I was home. DS was 5-6 months old. That was it. DS has gone through much anger and resentment ect. Now is time for closure. Their dad is looking forward to finally getting a chance to meet them. DD's autism has prevented her from caring much less one way or another so for that, I'm thankful. But, she wants to meet him anyway.

DSIL lives in Cape Coral. So we'll HAVE to go there. My old roommate lives close to Tampa so we'll HAVE to see her. Oh my, hope we have a chance to see it all!

Here's the itenerary. Tickets have been bought!!!

April 16th (wed)-Plane departs 6:45am AIRTRAN
We land in Tampa around 1130, pick up the rental and drive to DSIL's place in Cape Coral where we will spend a few blissful days by the pool & hot tub. No plans for this area except to get reaquainted as a family and enjoy eachother.

April 18th (Fri)-In the evening we have to make the drive to Tampa where the teams are staying in a hotel for the competition which will be held at the Sun Dome!!! We have to stay all together as there are many last minute practices and a bed check to make sure we are all there!!!!

April 20th (Sat)-The big competition. We are required to be there for both days to cheer on the other teams from our gym but we got special permission to skip out due to what tomorrow is.

April 21st (Sun) Stress out day. Today we will meet the kids' father for the afternoon and after that take a drive to see a very dear friend of mine and maybe drive to the stables and ride some horses she owns!

April 22nd (Mon) Family time at Busch Gardens. We get to get in free due to the Here's to the Hero's salute. (DH is a member of the National Guard.) Then we drive to Orlando for a week of fun. Shades of Green will be our resort. Again, we get that great military perk. We have a gift cert we can use at Rainforest in DTD for dinner if its not terribly late.

April 23rd (Tue) Universal Studios

April 24th (Wed) Islands of Adventure/Citiwalk. I am hoping for lunch at Mythos. and PM Hello Margaritaville!

April 25th (Thurs) Seaworld/Aquatica combo day. I have bought a All-you can eat beach buffet of some type for lunch at Aquatica. Late evening (840?) reservation at Whispering Canyon to get that Disney "fever" for next year!!

April 26th (Fri) This is our "rainy" day. If there's rain on one of the days we'll sub it for this day. Plans for this day are resort hopping, monorail riding, planning for a trip next year, and shopping at DTD. The fun thing this day is that my favorite aunt (who is only 4 years older than me so lots of fun) flies in tonight and is staying at POP so we will meet and have a sandwich together bufore saying goodbye!!!

April 27th (Black Saturday) or should I say Blue. For the way I'll be feeling about leaving as we'll be flying home today!! We'll be leaving SOG VERY early for the am flight out of Tampa back home.

May 1st. FINAL DESTINATION in Va Beach!!!! We fly out to Va Beach for my daughter's very last competition ever. Final Destination is the super bowl of competitions with only the best teams being invited to participate. In a qualifing competition you had to have scored first place. (yeah we did that). I plan to take a side trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Well, I'd have to wouldn't I???? It would complete everything! Best is the hotel is RIGHT ON THE BEACH and I have secured a room with an ocean front balcony. This trip is just Me, DD and My mom. She has lost many relatives this past year including her mom and brother and I'm hoping the trip with help in some much needed healing.

I am so excited. I should note here that out of everyone, Only I have ever been to WDW. The last time, was right after Epcot opened. I have never seen AK or Studios. I can't wait til next year!!! Anyway, we also have some really cool matching family shirts. I promise that after being on here for 4 years, I'll try to learn how to resize my pictures so I can post them. My camers is a Sony DCH or something 5 and the pixels are massive. When I try to resize, I lose major quality. But, I'll keep trying. Thanks for reading even though its not a Disney trip!!!!

[MickeyMAC]

Great beginning to your trip report. I hope your daughters team does well and that you have a great trip.

[DyanKJ130]

Your plans look great!! Add me to the group who will be cheering for your daughter & her team!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans I hope you guys have a magical trip