Pre-Trip Two Vets set to drag 2 first timers through the world! Project Niece and Nephew Part 1

Alright,

I know i just finished my Trip report for my wife and I's little getaway for hitting 10 years of marriage, but really what am i going to do with myself for the next 278 days and counting.

Here i will go ahead and introduce you to the clan on this trip, and Chronicle what i hope to be a pretty unique surprise!


As ,mentioned in my trip report, the first night there, we called and used the bounce back offer to book a trip for my oldest Niece and Nephew for their First ever trip! This is part of a multi year plan to get everyone to the world to experience it at least once in their life, and hopefully extend the love of the parks to the next generation, as my wife and I have no children of our own, and my Daughter ( step Daughter) is already addicted.

We will be arriving on the 5th of July, and leaving on the 11th of July. This also encompasses my wife's birthday on the 9th. So lets call it a 2 for trip :)

Heres the Motley Crue!

DW- My wife, whos more addicted to the parks than me i think
DN- My Neice Hannah. This will be her very first trip, and shes now 17,
DNF- My Nephew Henry he will be 13 at time of travel.
and of course ME!!!


SO quick story, we are not originally from TN, like everyone here were transplants, Shocker right? for most of the kids lives, we were right on top of them, within 5 minutes, and they were at the house all the time. Then came 2014, when we moved here for work. There have been few and far between trips either for them to come here, or us to go there, but we really haven't had the quality time that we once had with them.

For the longest time, we have wanted to take them, as every time we go, we bring them back something, and they see the photos, and hear the stories, but really have no idea what were talking about. I know deep down, my sister in law would love love love to take them, but just cant financially do it. To me that is where we come in.

My wife and i work hard, and are blessed these days, that finally we can afford to do it!

With that said, there currently is a 3 year plan

2020 Hannah and Henry
2021 My youngest Nephew, and youngest niece
2022 My sister in law adult only trip.

This kills several birds with 1 stone. 2020 puts us there for things opening in 2020, 221 hopefully for some early celebrations for the 50th, and 2022 hopefully most of EPCOT is ready to be launched.

Now July is never a time i say " hey lets go to Disney" No usually you say its really freaking hot outside, wheres the AC??

However, with school being out, in the north, and how unpredictable Maine weather is, we figured July is a safe bet. Lets face it, if they are still going to school in July, there's bigger problems for sure!

Now i must now divulge this information.. No one knows... well my sister inlaw knows, but thats it. My wife went up for a visit a few weeks before we were to go on our small get away trip, and asked her sister if it was OK. She didnt want to offend her, or make her sad because she cant do it for them, so we wanted to make sure we had her blessing to do so, and she said yes so it was on!


On the Drive back we kept awake by brainstorming on how to tell the kids, could we get a custom character call? can we send them something, what can we do? Nothing was coming to us.. Fast forward a week or so, we had gone to dinner, and i mentioned " i wish there was some kind of box subscription thing we could send" so like many times, my DW is so smart! ( no she didn't pay me to say that, however she will agree) She found one, and we started looking at them... Then we decided, Hey!! We can do that, cheaper, and more personal. SO in that came the plan of a box for them all.

2 that will be CONGRATS your going to DISNEY WORLD!!!!

and 2 that say DONT think we forgot you your next!

Now this actually works out in a lot of ways!

My youngest Nephew has some health issues with his legs, and has had to have surgery, so this wait time allows him to fully heal, and make sure hes strong and ready to drag us around for a week ha!

my youngest niece actually just spent the summer with us, so in all reality to be fair to her brothers and sisters that didn't get to come with her.

This is the Plan for the Boxes for the two going this year ( im still brainstorming how to do the " dont think we have forgotten you" boxes)

Letter from their favorite character welcoming them and congratulating them.
Park Maps from each park so they can do some planning and let us know what is a must do for them
Custom videos explaining the ins and outs of each park ( they have no idea what is there, as they haven't been exposed very much to them or even know there are that many)
Disney themed games, and other travel games for the drive
Some sort of early trinket or gift(s), such as a water bottle, blanket, or something else we can get from Shop Disney.
and whatever else we can come up with and fit in the box.

We will be getting their flights as well, so My mother inlaw even gets a break! She will fly down with them, and stay at the house for a week, help my daughter with the dogs and fish and all of that, and keep tabs on the house, and we will take the kiddos on a trip of a lifetime.


So far ive got a first draft of the Letters, i really wish i could find a downloadable template that was just like Walt Disney world stationary, but thus far i haven't.
Now that Disney doesn't do the planning DVDS, i have had to get Creative, and having to do some fancy stuff with YouTube to make up some videos and such to get in the box so they can see what we have got them into!

Another member in another forum here gave me an idea for custom shutterfly books, so im going to look into that with some photos of our last couple trips so they can have some photos of important things in the parks, like dole whips! Ha!

Follow along for all the fun we will have trying to count down a long time, and the building of the boxes!

If you have any ideas along the way shout em out :)
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Got the text from my wife and daughter at 2 or 3 am that they had arrived. They got there safely. I haven't heard much more, but good thing we just bought and shipped some luggage to the kiddos for the trip, they will need it sooner after all! Waiting to get briefed on Nanas condition, and hoping that shes coherent and able to hold a conversation, as I told my wife id love to have a video call to be able to see her as well. All the stuff Disney keeps releasing really helps keep me sane right now. Im just dreaming of driving under the arch, and shedding a tear that im home. Im dreaming of my first pina colava, and walk around the resort looking for bunnies etc.
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
nana was called home to the lord today. She is no longer in pain, and watching over us. Disney if your listening, please put us at at boardwalk in august if you move us. This would be perfect. Waiting to hear when my wife and kiddos will be making the drive home. Nana wanted no service, and will be cremated. It will be a while before that all gets done, and a headstone is ordered. She is forever in our hearts, and I still have her voice on my voicemail. I've been working around the house to get some projects done for my wife, and trying to follow all the stuff disney is posting etc. Can't wait to be back!
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Sorry for your family’s loss. Cancer just plain sucks! Sending good thoughts and prayers your way.
Thanks so much! I think the hardest thing is I stayed home to take care of the dogs and house while my wife and daughter went up. I was hoping she would be with us enough for a video call so I could see her o e more time, so I've been a bit of an emotional mess with no one else to talk to really other than the dogs. Cancer really is a b*tch. Found some voicemails from my birthdays over the years still on my phone, and that brought some good feelings. Waiting for the word on when. The girls will be traveling home.

Once they get here we can start getting more done on the trip. there is still a ton to get done.

Got to get the truck and oil change and gone through to make sure we're good to make the trip. It's like 740 miles from here the route we go to miss Atlanta.

Got to order a cover for the truck bed so we can put all the luggage there. Usually we take the car, but with 2 teenagers and us, the truck just has more room.

Weve got other things for the kids we need to get done, thankfully the silver lining here is they will be here and adjusted to the humidity before we leave so that's good. Trying to focus on the trip and even with the restrictions, what a great time we're going to have.
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So sorry for your loss. Will be waiting to hear about your trip! So awesome that you are taking your niece and nephew!
We are so excited to take them. This is part one of.a 2 trip plan. After these 2 will br there other 2. It just was not feasible to take all 4 at once and get any special alone time with them. Plus it gets us back for the 50th!! Even though there's a ton of restrictions, were ready to make memories!
 
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Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Made the final payment tonight. my wife, Daughter, Niece and Nephew strike out for home in the morning. They will be stopping in virginia to get some sleep, should be back here Wednesday Evening. I'm glad she could go, and be there to say her goodbyes, and be with family, but I'm sure she will be happy to be home. I tried to keep my mind busy, and got a ton of projects for her done in the back yard. Slowly theming into a jungle type setup based on adventureland. Can't wait for her to see it all.
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Wife and Kiddos arrived around 2 pm yesterday. Everyone was exhausted, so i finished up my work day, and we ordered some pizza, they got in the pool, and then my nephew wanted to watch ride videos. So we watched a few ride videos. To say the least they are stoked, and ready. 52 days and counting. Were going to watch some important movies with them as we have time. Such as Avatar, and others, so some of the rides if we can get on them, so they have some back story.
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
49 days or so left. Step one. New shoes and new sandals for all 4 pairs of feet. Now to break them in. Been having a blast sharing park maps, and photos I've taken etc.

Step 2
Let's start filling in the blanks of Disney or Disney owned films they haven't seen. Step one tonight is Avatar! Pull up a pool lounge, pull up a bag of popcorn, drink a BD a blanket, and let's do this! Come on dusk so we can get started.
IMG_20200620_194616.jpg
 

Mainahman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Phone lines are fun...today has consisted of stalker calling reservations for 2 hours to get in, then an hour of hold before i had to hang up for work., now trying to get through to guest services directly so i can get something done.. lets see how long this takes.
 

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