MAYBE when you are older, so you remember more.
MAYBE when Michael (my younger brother by 6 years) is older, so he can remember more.
MAYBE you can go with friends someday.
MAYBE when you have your own kids, you can go.
MAYBE when our girls are a bit older to remember and enjoy it.
Over the years, I lost count how many times, I heard or also thought ‘MAYBE‘ at a later date or time, I could go to Disney World. So, I made it to almost 38 years old and NEVER been to Disney – EVER!
The issue here originated, when I was a little girl and didn’t know much better. It all started with a trip that my mom and dad took to Mexico, when I was 3 1/2 years old (a little younger then Lily).
What happened on the trip was apparently pretty uneventful until that fated (What happens in Mexico apparently stays there!), return airplane flight home (this is the part that has been shared many times over the years by my mom)…
On that flight, my parents were indeed on returning home, when lo and behold, the pilot came over the plane’s intercom sharing that three out of the plane’s four engines had decided to just stop working and die. The crew was working hard to get them back up, but definitely was a major problem and if wasn’t fixed the plane might very well crash.
At this point, my dad turned to the stewardess, ordered a round of shots (this was the days before they charged for alcohol on flights), put his sunglasses on, kissed my mom and told her he would see her on the other side.
No joke, my dad pretty much figured if this was the end, he was going out in style (you have to know my dad to understand the way he thinks).
My mom, on the other hand, was less then thrilled by my dad’s apparent way of coping and was actually more then a bit nervous and panicked without someone to share her feelings of impending doom.
Thankfully, by the grace of god, two of the three failed engines were restored a few minutes later. They landed the plane safely, where my parents were deplaned to have to be re-boarded on a different plane that didn’t have the same issues to return the rest of the way back home to New York City.
Yet, my mother truly never recovered from this horrific experience for years to come (I should know as having heard this story so often I can pretty much tell it here verbatim here) and is only finally taking a plane to go to a cousin’s wedding later this year out of town for the first times in years.
But for me, as a kid growing up who longed to go to Disney World, this was so not in the cards, since that disastrous flight for my mom, she was not flying to Disney or anywhere else (We would have had to drag her kicking and screaming on a plane if we would have tried).
Thus the maybe excuses galore, I heard and shared above.
Until that is this past weekend…
Kevin and I finally began to seriously (we have been thinking for over a year now off and on) look into Disney for our family of four.
Here in New York (in case you are living under a rock), the blizzard of the century was looming and so I needed something to keep me sane, plus dream of better, warmer times.
And then this happened!!
No More Maybe!!
[Tweet “No More Maybe – Disney Here We Come!! #1Word @TheGoldenSpoons“]
Yes, we have booked and are going to Disney World in the summer time – the second week of August to be exact.
Very excited and I am putting out calls now for guest bloggers here and now, because I will be gone for a week. By the way, this is the first real vacation I have had in over three years (when I first started blogging) and am most definitely taking the week off from blogging and designing to enjoy all things magical at Disney, plus hoping to lay out at the resort pool just a bit, too (hey after 2-3 feet of snow here these last two days, tanning and pool time in the warm Florida sun sounds heavenly right about now).
By the way, this was also the prompt (MAYBE) for this week’s The 1 Word Blog Challenge by Lisa from the Golden Spoons.
As horrendous as the weather has been here, I thought this was just about the most wonderful news I could share this week and what better time then at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop…
So, let’s get this party started and hop on!!
Everything Soft Pretzel Nuggets from A Sprinkle of This and That
- Please follow our host and co-hosts in as many ways possible (social media links below)
- PLEASE TWEET THIS PARTY !!!! We want everyone to know about it!
- Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like, no giveaways please.
- Visit three or more others. Let them know you’ve been there!
- When you are PINNING, remember to do it from the original post. ♥
- If you are new, be sure to let us know in the comments so that we can follow you back. ♥
- Thanks for joining us!
Simply Suzannes at Home says
Thanks so much for hosting, Janine!
And another thank you for featuring my Dutch Baby oven baked pancakes :0)
Have a great week,
Suzanne
Janine says
Aww, my pleasure on both accounts, Suzanne. Have a great week, too 🙂
Seana Turner says
Disney is definitely worth the trip! I bet Tamara has some very helpful tips to make the trip a success as she is there right now. My best tip is, if you can swing it, hire a VIP guide. They get you to the front of the lines, great seats at parades, etc. It is expensive, but you get 2-3x more out of the trip. So fun to look forward to, right?
Janine says
Great tip, Seana and will have to look into this. And you are so right and will totally be picking her brain when she gets back now for sure 🙂
Diane Roark says
Janine,
Congratulations! You will love Disney or at least your kids will love it. I am updating my new travel blog and it will be ready soon. I have so many post about Disney World. We have been to Disney 3 times in the past 18 months including over the Christmas break. I have several posts to write about it one day. I would highly recommend booking a couple of characters breakfast or dinners. It is a great way to see the characters. They will come right up to your table. You can also see them in the parks and we do, but you have to wait in pretty long lines most of the time. Character dinners need to be booked 6 months in advance because they fill up fast. I could go on and on about Disney. We love it and we hate it. It is truly a magical place, but it can be so tiring especially in the summer heat in Florida the temperature in August will probably be 95 to 100 degrees with a lot of humidity. It will also be crowded with longs lines to everything. Pack waters & snacks in the parks and take lots of breaks. If you purchase your tickets early, you can use them to get fast passes on-line. That way you will not miss anything you truly want to do in each park. I have not taken my posts off Recipes for our Daily Bread yet. You can find them by searching Disney on it. If you have any questions about Disney at all, please email or call me. I would love to help you with as many tips as I can. Before moving to Arkansas, we went to Disney every February to escape Madi Gras mess in South Alabama and New Orleans when we lived there. I have never flown to Disney. We always drive. I will not be able to help with tips from airport to Disney. It is a 16 hours from our house and about 1/2 of that from south LA & south AL.
Many Blessings and Congratulations again!
Diane Roark
Janine says
Diane, I am truly so excited and I am really looking forward to your new travel blog even more so now with this trip. I did hear about the character breakfast and Disney told me that I have to wait 180 days out or 6 months and that brings me to February 9th for the first day (but will most likely be shooting for at least or day or so in). I want to hopefully book the princess dinner, Cinderella’s palace and Chef Mickey and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the very least. I have been researching so much, but will probably have more questions and I thank you for the offer, which I may very well take you up on. Huge thank you again and seriously couldn’t appreciate it more if I tried!! 🙂 🙂
Diane Roark says
Janine,
Your girls will more than love all these things you are looking at. Diana and Caleb are both extremely big Character fans. They love to go to Chef Mickey’s. It is one of the only place that you can see Mickey, but the food is NOT good. You will have to read my blog post about it. Even though the food is NOT GOOD, we still go. You can also see Mickey at Garden Grill in Epcot. The food there is truly yummy!!
Blessings,
Diane Roark
Janine says
Diane, thank you for telling me about the food there and also about Garden Grill and will definitely be looking into that, too now that you mentioned it. Seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙂
Nellie says
yaaaaaaaaassaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! You totally deserve this trip and more and if you need any pointers or tricks I am just a text message away as I have been many many times (after my trip in a few weeks I would have gone 3 times in less than a year) you will love it and be totally addicted!!! I am so excited for you <3
Janine says
Aww, thank you Nellie and I love that you are just a text away and seriously just gave me an added excuse to text you!! Love you 🙂
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says
Yay for Disney!!!!!!!!! I love what you did with this prompt and this is definitely great news to share in the midst of all the winter weather!!! 🙂
Janine says
Aww, thank you Lisa and I know I have said it before, but thank you for creating this prompt linkup as I am having a ton of fun with it and look forward to it weekly now. I am going to be sad when it is over and hope you may decide to extend it 🙂
Kim says
WooHoo!! So excited for you!! Do the girls know? I can’t even imagine how excited this will make them – I hope you share all about the reveal!!!
Janine says
Kim, the girls do know and the reveal was pretty much me asking them what color they wanted their Disney Magic Bands to be. I guessed Emma’s, but Lily surprised thinking she would want pink, but went with Elsa blue (lol)!! 🙂
Bill says
Well I’m happy for you. I’m one of the rare ones who has never been to Disneyland. Had my chances but never really cared to go there…but I am happy for you, you earned it, you deserve it, go for it!
Janine says
Bill, sounds like we had more in common then I even knew! But still thank you Bill and going to be wird taking the time off, but so excited and now I truly can’t wait 🙂
Lindsay Klein says
YESSSS! Now I see:) So So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!! xo
Janine says
Aww, thank you Lindsay and I knew once you saw this and my comment on your blog, you would totally get it!! xoxo 🙂
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I am really excited for you! You are going to have such a great time! And the girls are at the perfect age…they are going to love it!
Janine says
Thank you so much Michelle and they were looking with me tonight getting so excited. So, I honestly now can’t wait for this trip to see them there in all their glory 🙂
Jenny @ Unremarkable Files says
That is quite the story! (Your parents’ plane incident.) I’m sure your great-grandchildren will be telling the story someday.
Thanks again for hosting!
Janine says
Thanks Jenny and so very happy to host again and can totally see this story being shared many, many more years 😉
Echo says
YAY! I am so very excited for you! I can’t wait to hear all about it! You are not alone, by the way. I have never been to Disney either!
Janine says
Echo, I honestly thought it was just me and hearing this made me love you just a bit more then I already do 😉
another jennifer says
I have never been to Disney World either, though my parents did take us to Disney Land at one point. I always felt slighted though because everyone else went to Florida! I hope to take my boys to Disney World soon!
Janine says
Jennifer, I seriously thought it was just me, but am starting to realize it might not have been. And truly hope you can take the boys soon, too now 😉
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
We usually go in August, so be prepared for extreme heat and humidity. Also, that is the rainy season, so make sure you have ponchos.
Janine says
Robin, I had heard both and wonder if we will be down there around the same time. Possibly we could meet up if so 😉
Bev says
Yikes, what a scary ordeal for your parents to go through! Glad they made it ok. And yay for going to Disney! I’ve been four times in my life, though the last time was well over a decade ago (I went three times in four years high school-college). I hope you have a BLAST! And I would love to guest post if you are still looking for people!
Janine says
Bev, I would love you to guest post and please feel free to email me and will totally set it up. So excited as I adore you and would be honored to have you on my blog while I am away 😉
Alexa says
I am so excited for you! It truly is magical. But, just gonna warn you, August in Orlando can be like hell on earth, so pack hats and lots of sunscreen! !! So much fun!!
Janine says
Aww, thanks for the warning, but I know I am probably crazy for saying it, but I love the heat and the hotter the better for me, as I hate the cold and would much rather be hot (I know I am insane, but still)!! 🙂
Dara says
yay! that is so exciting!
Janine says
Aww, thanks so much, Dara!! 🙂
Marcia Shaw Wyatt says
There definitely comes a time when we should put “Maybe” to rest and take life by the horns and do things that we’ve been wanting to do. There’s no time like the present – and life passes by too quickly. So glad you’ve put your “maybe” to rest and hope you have a wonderful vacation in August! Great post! 🙂
Janine says
Thank you so much Marcia and I know am just so excited to finally be able to put this “Maybe” to rest once and for all 🙂
Dana says
Janine, I am so thrilled for you and your family – I know how long you have been wanting to take this trip! My kids can’t get enough of Disney – they were home yesterday (snow day) and were watching You Tube videos of rides and trading pins with each other.
Janine says
Dana, that totally made me smile and hoping my girls will love their first time there and will feel the same as your kids as they do get older still about Disney 🙂
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
I’m not a good flyer. That story made me nervous and a little nauseated just reading it. I can completely identify with your mom… that would totally make me reluctant to flying.
How exciting though… you’re headed to DISNEY!!! Yay!!
Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Janine says
Jennifer, I totally get why my mom felt the way she did and why we never did go to Disney, but still so excited now to finally go. My pleasure sharing and wishing you wonderful day once again, too!! xoxo 🙂
Ginny Marie says
I have never been to Disney World, and so definitely have no tips to share! But we are all booked with tickets, Fast Passes, and restaurant reservations all ready to go at the end of March. I’m sure you will read about our trip on my blog! I’d love to be one of your guest bloggers when you are gone, and could probably even keep it Disney themed!
Janine says
I will totally take you up on the guest post and please, please e-mail at jnine0712@me.com or I will definitely contact you closer either way if you are still game. And I would love Disney themed, so excited you would want to guest post for me, as well as that you are going in March to Disney (cannot wait to hear all about it from you)!! 🙂
Ginny Marie says
Aw, thanks Janine! I’ll email you soon! 🙂
Janine says
Awesome and thank you so much again!!! 🙂
Liz Mays says
I’m SO glad you’re finally getting the chance to go to Disney World. Everyone should go at least once and I’m totally thrilled for you. All four of you will have the BEST time!
Janine says
Aww, thank you so much Liz and truly appreciate your kind words and thoughts for us!! 🙂
Kim @ HappyPrettyBlog says
Eeeeeek you are going to have so much fun! It truly is the happiest place on earth and both times I was there (once at age 11 and once at age 18) it was awesome! There is something for everyone!
Janine says
Kim, that is what I keep hearing and thank you so much for sharing that with me today, too 🙂
Stephanie @ Life, Unexpectedly says
How totally and absolutely exciting, Janine! I may be a little bit jealous 🙂 And I know that Miss Lily and Princess Violet are TOTALLY going to be jealous 🙂 They may get Legoland later this year though 🙂
Have tons of fun, and should you still need a guest-blogger, I’ll gladly help out!
PS: sorry I’be been so absent lately, life happens..
Janine says
Stephanie, you are on and would love you to guest post (e-mail me when you can at: jnine0712@me.com) and please don’t apologize as I have been so crazy here the past few weeks myself – so think we are truly even!!
Kate says
You’re going to love it! I think its even better that you waited to go until you had kids- much more special experience.
Janine says
Aww, thanks Kate and I think you may very well be right!! 🙂
Alison says
How exciting!
I went to Disneyland in California when I was 9, and it was one of the most memorable things in my childhood. Emma and Lily will remember your August trip forever. 🙂
Janine says
Aww, Alison I truly hope they do both remember it and never forget 😉
Tara Newman says
OHMYGOODNESS!!! I am 38 and have never been to Disney 🙂 What a crazy story about your parents and honestly, if I were your mom, I would have killed your father when we landed. I would have been a crazy person. What an exciting trip for all of you. AND this week is brutal here.
Janine says
Tara, I think my mom was a way nicer person then myself to be honest. As much as I love my dad, if this were my husband, I would have murdered him, too! And couldn’t agree more, it is totally brutal here this week. More possibly to come tomorrow and Sunday night. God help us!
Jen says
Oh my gosh that story!! I don’t think I would fly again either!
How exciting Disney! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help that week 🙂
Janine says
Jen, I know my poor mother! But still thank you for the offer and may very well take you up on that!! 🙂
Janine says
Thank you so much Christy for always being so kind to me and such a great friend, too!! Hugs right back at you 😉
Gingi says
OMG, I’m so excited for you guys!! I used to work at Disneyland, so I am a HUGE Disney park junkie, hehe… can’t wait for ya’ll to experience the magic!! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Janine says
Gingi, that must have been such a fun job and maybe someday you can share more with us all about as I would love to hear all about it 😉
Aunt Gloria says
How exciting! I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time, in spite of the heat. I remember your parents’ trip to Mexico but don’t remember the drama of the failed engines. Glad your mother is ready to brave the friendly skies again. Hope the prediction for more snow is wrong….but if it comes, hope you stay safe and warm! xxoo
Janine says
Aww thanks Aunt Gloria and we are doing are best to stay safe and warm now xoxo 😉
Rosey says
Woohoo! Big congrats to you! I know you’re going to have a wonderful time! I love visiting Disney World! And high five for taking the blog time off too. Vacations are meant for playin’ and relaxin’!
Janine says
Aww, thanks Rosey and I know I really just want to enjoy every moment of it 😉
Chris Carter says
Did I read this one? ACK!! I think I missed it somehow! I do remember you talking about this though, so maybe I did read it. Good LORD, I’m a mess. 😉
YOU TOTALLY DESERVE THIS VACATION!!! Three years? Girl, you better not even BRING a laptop and may I challenge you to go COMPLETELY off the grid? Could you imagine?
Totally unplugged. Ah… I bet you won’t miss ONE moment with your family in the greatest place on earth. Now you can just bask in the anticipation through these nasty snow filled months!!
Janine says
Chris, thank you again so much and I know sometimes I read something and I can’t remember if I did, too. And your challenge, I love it and have to see definitely try to do this, because I want to enjoy all of it!! 🙂
Tamara says
Well you know I’ll guest for you! I’ll even talk about Disney!
This is so exciting! It was so awesome. It was so magical. I loved it as a kid but I love it even more now.
Yay!!!!!!
And that plane story is horrific but your dad sounds like the kind of person I want to know.
Janine says
Yes, yes and yes!!! I was so hoping you would and didn’t want to bother you when you first came back, as I do have over 6 months before we go now. But still you know I love you and of course would be honored to have you guest post for me and please feel free to share any of your Disney adventures and photos here with my readers. Seriously, you made me smile more then you know with this offer. And my dad really is a great guy, but that is just his sense of humor and not everyone gets it, but I love you do as it makes sense since again we are twins 🙂
Rabia @TheLiebers says
Disney!! That’s so exciting! We went last summer and it was my first time ever being there. I can’t wait to see how you tell the girls. I’ll bet you come up with something super creative! They are going to be so excited!!
Janine says
Rabia, they already are and it is all they talk about. Yay that you finally got to go last year for the first time, too 🙂