It´s something to look forward to, especially during those long workdays when you ask yourself why you´re there at nine at night.
In previous years, my mother and I have taken trips all around Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii. We have taken cruise after cruise, tour after tour. Many times going on vacation feels more like work because when you´re in a tour group you have to wake up when they tell you to, pack and unpack and go where they want you to go. It is a great experience, which I would highly recommend to anyone, however, sometimes you just want a vacation to be a vacation.
This year, I will be paying for our vacation after over ten years of my mother planning and paying for them. My original plan was to book a cruise to Alaska in May, however, my mother will most likely be moving during that time and so that idea was saved for another year.
I thought hard about where I would like to go that is affordable. I wanted to go somewhere where I could relax and not have to run around. After my last vacation in September 2006, it felt like our trip to Ireland wasn´t much of a vacation and when we returned home, I was almost relieved that we did not have to go onto another bus or plane.
After a few days of thinking and going through travel brochures, it became pretty evident where we needed to go. Disney World (of course!). I didn´t give myself much more time to think, that same day I booked our trip for September 2007 and charged it on my Disney Visa card. This will be my first trip ever, where I have paid for the trip entirely myself and I am in complete control of where, when, how and who.
It was pretty darn exciting, I´m telling you. It may not seem like a big thing to someone who has been planning their trips for years, but when you have full control over a trip, it can be overwhelming, yet, exhilarating at the same time!
I have to also mention the lovely customer service I experienced during my booking process. I booked directly through Disney mainly because A. It´s easy, B. I have had a very good experience with the customer service and C. They send you these great little personalized notes and letters in the mail talking about how excited they are that you´re coming! When I first booked my trip, I accidentally requested a six-day trip, instead of seven. I called back twice to change it, but was told both times the airline would charge me if I did. Not willing to accept defeat, I tried again later that day and spoke with a lovely customer representative who was somehow able to change my trip to seven days for me, without any additional charges (except for the additional day of park tickets, room, etc.).
Using my Disney Visa card also allowed me to not have to pay the APR for my vacation for 6 months. Also, when you use your card, you receive Disney reward points that can be used in Disney World (or Disney stores). That works out great for me, since last time I was there, I spent over $100 at the Disney store in Downtown Disney (it´s HUGE!).
I have already begun an itinerary for my trip, which I worked out by looking at which parks are least crowded during each day of the week. I then decided when to make reservations for my favorite restaurants, working around that schedule.
As September grows closer, I find myself growing more and more excited. Even my mother has found herself excited and anxious about going! This is exactly how all vacations should be.(213 Days until I´m going to Walt Disney World!
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