10 things I learned on my recent vacation to Florida....

1. They make swim suits with skirts now...I strongly encourage people to check them out.....

2. Families that dress alike when visiting the Magic Kingdom creep me out - I understand dressing your kids alike so you can spot them in the crowds but do the parents need to wear shirts that say "I'm the Mom of Thing 1 & 2"?

3. There are still nice gate agents and flight attendants, you just have to treat them like people and not people who work FOR you.....they may even do you some favors.....

4. I highly recommend drinking when your 15 month old screams on the 3 hour plane ride home, it really takes the edge off.....

5. The more people you travel with, the more likely someone on your trip will get some sort of puking bug.

6. When visiting the Magic Kingdom you will be treated like a herd of cattle, don't take it personally, they are just trying to move you along.......

7. Grandparents are amazing, they help you out when you need them, watch your kids when you need a break and may even bring you with them to Florida...but when they start mentioning things like "We'll really miss you guys" or "Wow, it is going to be so quiet here when you're gone" and you still don't leave for a few days....that's your cue....start packing.....

8. Things in gift shops that seem like good ideas to buy for your kids will only be thrown under their bed when they get home......my kids bought about 7 new hats, 3 stuffed animals and a few other random items - their favorite thing? The free Benihana chopsticks from dinner - they are still playing with them...I could have saved a lot of money.

9. If your kids tell you they don't want to meet the characters, and you insist it will be fun and you then stand in line for 45 minutes only to have to RUN past the characters when you finally get to the front, then you can only blame yourself...not your kids.

10. If you stay at someone else's house on vacation you will most likely have to replace a few things (a comforter, a spatula, a pool skimmer...) If they are good friends of yours, they will most likely understand.......

Planning a Disney Vacation.......

OK....so the kids are finally old enough and we thought we would treat them to a day at Disney when we go down to Florida this winter...yes, I said "a day", one single day, 24 hours, not 2 days, not a week, not 10 days....a single day....

To the people at groups like "All Ears" and "The Mouse for Less" this probably seems like a complete waste of time.....I am almost embarrassed to tell people that we are only spending a day there....but for the four of us we are spending almost $500 for a day of tickets! Does anyone else think this is crazy - that a family of four (we aren't bringing the baby - no thank you.....) has to spend about $1000 to go to Disney for one day and one night? Coming from a family that has one income I think this is almost rude on the part of the Disney Executive staff - who in America can afford this right now? Isn't Disney for families? How can people enjoy everything that all these parks have to offer if they have to take out a second mortgage to plan a trip to the Magic Kingdom?

Anyway, I guess I'm just venting, but this is my blog, and I can cry if I want to....(wasn't there a song like that a long time ago?) Maybe blogs are a "poor man's" therapy? I sure feel better now - Hey! It worked! I think I'm on to something!

I'll let you know how in debt we are when I return....I mean HOW much more debt we have accumulated when I return....

By the way, I have give kudos to "The Mouse for Less" and "All Ears" or I wouldn't have a clue as to what to do, when to go and what to see...so thank you to all the kind people out there who read my posts and answered them with great facts about the parks :)