I just spent $500 we don't have. Ask me anything.

[MorningGlow]

Bought tickets to Florida for me and MG Jr. (while DH is going on the company dime for a seminar), so MG Jr. can meet his "other" grandma (MIL) who hasn't been able to get her arse up here to see the kid in three and a half years. Mentally adding up the cost of food and hotel once the seminar is over and...:scared:...

[MorningGlow]

1. Nobody loves me--snurfle

So here's a shameless self-kick for the day crowd. :shrug:

[AllegroRondo]

2. Have fun.

I hope you will be able to get out and enjoy this little vacation. Maybe visit the beach?

[MorningGlow]

3. Thanks, AR

I will try not to think about the charges on the credit card and just enjoy the vacation. We're actually going to Orlando, so no beach, but perhaps MG Jr. will try the hotel pool--he's never been in anything larger than a kiddie pool. He has NO interest in Disney (goddess bless my little genius), but he does like other TV characters, so he might enjoy Universal Orlando instead. But that is nearly $100 per person for a one-day admission! We need a fainting smiley here on DU...

[AllegroRondo]

4. you really get screwed if you only go one day

they give you a great discount on longer tickets.

But there are lots of other things to do in the area, like water parks, dinner shows, etc. Im sure your hotel will have tons of brochures and possibly discounts for them.

For a cheap diversion, check out the town of Celebration. Its not far from Disney, under 15 minutes. Its a town of mostly condos, but very well maintained, and the main street has lots of nice shops (not chains!), small restaurants, a small movie theater, and a lake. Worth a look.

Also, Downtown Disney is free, but its only stores and restaurants. Some neat stuff to see there, but no rides.

[MorningGlow]

5. Good tips--thanks

Before MG Jr., we walked around Winter Park, which was very nice. But I don't think the shops there would interest him much. Been to Disney Village as well, which was fair-to-middlin' and also not of interest to a 4-year-old (except for the toy stores, of course).

I'm hoping he'll be fascinated by the hotel itself and its amenities--he's never stayed in one before--and that my SIL may have some activities planned. We shall see.

[mzteris]

for you . . .

Not on DU, but one I keep handy.


You should at least drive over to the beach if he's never seen the ocean. And if your son's genius leans toward the engineering/technical/space side - you're not that far from Cape Canaveral, either!

I'm not usually one to say "don't worry about money" - but SOMETIMES in your life, you just gotta do what you gotta do. And sometimes even what you WANT to do!

He's not missing much by not going to Disney (or Universal, either, really) just a bunch of rides and high priced food. I'd spend the $$ on going to Kennedy Space Center and spending a day at the beach.

oh yeah, here's another one for ya:




Have fun! :hi:

[MorningGlow]

19. Excellent!

The emptying wallet especially! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I will keep those handy!

MG Jr. has been to the beach--visited my brother in Cali in June and went to Newport. He liked it a lot and now wants to move to California and live at the beach! No problem kid, except for...
(Hey, that thing comes in handy!)

My son is a 40-year-old midget (especially vocabulary-wise) and yet likes nothing but cars. I tried to find some Cars (the Movie) attractions at Disney, but I didn't see much online.

:hi:

[mzteris]

23. Florida beaches

are NOTHING like California ones!

(Well, except for the sand and the water and stuff ...) no really, it's different. You should check it out.

Cars, huh? So he's not into rockets and stuff by extension? lol...

We went to Kennedy Space Center when I was just a little girl and I still remember it with awe. And I wasn't even into any of that "stuff". I've not made it there with my boys so far. :( Something always comes up.

I know about those 40 yo midgets - -only mine's taller than ME now! He'll be 14 in November and had huge growth spurt this past year. Oh my. That takes some getting used to!

[BlueIris]

6. 3 1/2 years? Well, it's probably worth it then.

Grandparents being what they are to little kids, after all. :-). I don't think I ever went more than 2 years without seeing the grandparents--they wouldn't have it.

[MorningGlow]

10. My MIL is kinda weird

She's nice, and she cares about MG Jr., but she doesn't make an effort to see him (or ask when we're coming). She visited when he was 3 months old, only because SIL, her daughter, came too, and that was it. She sends cards on his birthdays and a box of clothes at Christmas. MG Jr. talks about his "other grandma" but says she doesn't know enough to send toys (!) so his grandma here (my mom) should teach her about it. I'm lucky that my mom is ALLLL about this kid (as is my aunt, her sister), so he does get appropriately spoiled. Plus my mom babysits him several days a week.

[KitchenWitch]

14. She sounds a lot like my MIL!

Only it is more of a thing for my MIL to visit, since they live in Asia now.

[MorningGlow]

16. Asia I could forgive! The length of the eastern seaboard, not so much.

DH's family is a puzzle to me, but then again, I'm 100% Italian, so the way I've been raised, famiglia is EVERYthing.

[KitchenWitch]

17. When we lived in MN and they in CA, we rarely saw them

And only if we came out to CA.

Very strange indeed.

[MorningGlow]

20. Different strokes, I guess

I don't get it, myself, though. :shrug:

[KitchenWitch]

21. Me neither, and I am not Italian

But come from a close knit family (at least on my mom's side).

[I Have A Dream]

7. I think that you're doing the right thing, MG.

Your son needs to see his grandma. I know money's tight, but these are the types of things that you look back on and are happy that you did even if you have to scrape a bit to make it happen.

Have a great vacation!

:hug:

[MorningGlow]

11. Sigh--that's what I've been telling DH

He's been saying maybe Jr. and I shouldn't go, but I tell him his mother needs to see the kid and vice versa. (They're not exactly a touchy-feely family, so they could go forever without connecting.) Snarf--and he prolly figured he'd have a couple of nights of partying and drinking single-malt scotch if we stayed home!

[edbermac]

8. Is this a bad time to ask you for a loan?

:rofl:

[MorningGlow]

12. ROFL!

Is your name Capital One or Bank of America? Because I owe my soul to them for the foreseeable future! You can be third in line, though. Check back with me to see if I have anything left for you in a few years.

:rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

9. The money will be there!

:hi:

:hug:

sometimes one must go out on a limb.

[MorningGlow]

13. Yes! Tough to keep in mind, though.

Trying, trying...! :hi:

[MorningGlow]

22. ROFLMAO!!

I just got the mail. Included: Star tax rebate. $400.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

24. That is fantastic!

:)

[carly denise pt deux]

15. can you stay with the DH in his hotel room, if the company is paying for his room?

that may cut down on costs. Universal Florida is alot of fun, my kid liked it a whole lot better than Disney World, but he is a teenager. I took my kid to universal in california when he was about 5, and it was not as fun for him, as he was not tall enough to ride some of the rides.

Also, look on line for some discounts on the tickets. Thru the Orlando visitors bureau or Kissimmee bureau or even online at universal they sometimes have deals on the tickets. Have a great time!

As for the money, don't worry about it, just go have a great time.
Carly

[MorningGlow]

18. A couple of nights are covered, yes

But then the seminar ends, and we have to pony up for the rest of the time (three or four nights). The company booked the room for the whole week so we don't have to switch rooms, but they stop paying on Wednesday. We thought about only being there at the same time as DH would be attending the seminar, but he would be totally AWOL Monday through Wednesday, and I don't think I'd feel comfortable hangin' with the in-laws without him.

Thanks for the Universal Florida info. I was wondering if MG Jr. would be interested or not. He'll be 4 when we're there (two days after his birthday!)--plus he doesn't seem too interested in rides yet. He might once he tries them, though. (LOL--a local carnival would be a cheaper way to find out!)

I couldn't find any discounts through AAA but I'll try the others--thanks! :hi:

[AllegroRondo]

25. AAA has some great Disney discounts

but only if you book your trip through their travel agency.

[MorningGlow]

27. Ah!

I was looking on the AAA Web site and didn't see much of interest. Too late about the booking--went through AirTran directly. That wasn't too bad--the trip out was $84 per. More coming back. Dang--they gitcha!

[riderinthestorm]

26. Forget about Disney or Universal with a 4 year old, imho

IF you want to ever go there, wait until he is older - like at least 10 years old or so that way he can go on all the rides and will remember it better. At 4 years old, he can barely ride anything and the staggering costs will piss you off like no other - it's as though the giant sucking sound starts as soon as you drive into those places as they begin hoovering up your cash.

SeaWorld was a huge success with my 4 year old. You can go see the manatees at some of the local parks for very little money. Canaveral was a joy for my youngster as well. But the top thing she remembers from her time in Florida at that age was the beach. Free sand, surf, sand toys, picnics.... She still remembers our two days at Cocoa Beach as the highlight of the trip.