Pre-Trip We're Almost There

With my upcoming trip now thirty days out😲, I thought it would be a good time to get started on my very first pre-trip report! I’ve been a part of the boards for quite a few years now, and I LOVE reading all of your reports, but I’ll admit, I’ve always been a little intimidated about writing one of my own. Inspired by some of my favs, I’ve realized that making a TR is a great way to commemorate a trip, both in writing and in memory, so, here goes nothing!...

Who: Myself (D) and my niece (S)
What: A complete and utter surprise for the best kid around
When: July 8-14
Where: AKL
Why: Last summer, my niece asked to come and spend time with me during her next summer break; to which I, of course, said yes! Given our mutual love of travel, I began thinking of fun places to take her; and what happens to come on television but a Disney World commercial. Her mother and I apparently had the same idea, because we looked at each other and started nodding our heads like something out of a movie. While having been to Universal multiple times, she has never been to WDW (and has been dying to go since she’s been old enough to talk)! From there, I started looking into logistics, broke it down for her parents, and started the ball rolling. The best part, you ask? MY NIECE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA!!!! As far as she knows, she’s just coming to hang out with me for a week.

The plan thus far is to take her out for a day on the town, get our nails done and go to dinner. The ruse is to tell her that we're going to hang out with some friends in Florida, and we have to leave early for our flight; this way we can have clothes laid out and the suitcases by the door without giving too much away.

So begins the tale of me, a 30something childfree Millennial, traveling with my tween-age niece to the most magical place on earth. If I can complete my graduate degree in the midst of a global lockdown, I can handle this, right?...right??? Ladies and gentlemen, pray for us both!
 
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Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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More often than not, when you start planning a Disney trip, everything feels very much in the abstract; like the day is so far into the future it almost doesn't seem real. Honestly, it wasn't until I was in Target this afternoon getting things for the trip that it all hit me, and that oh so familiar feeling of giddy excitement took over (apologies to anyone in the cosmetics section of my local Target who undoubtedly saw me grinning like a fool; I'm not nuts, I promise 😅). I have to say, with all of the uncertainties in today's world, it's nice to still be able to have moments of pure joy in one's life.

*Update on Operation Surprise- I took a trip to visit my niece for her school play yesterday and began planting the seeds of deception. For now, all that she knows is that we'll be flying out of town the day after she gets to me (thank God this kid doesn't ask a lot of questions, because as soon as the word "flight" came out of my mouth, she immediately went to her room to FaceTime outfit choices with her friends).*
 
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Yodasnuggs

Active Member
I'm not a big commenter, but I read literally every single post in the planning section because I feel like I learn so much. I've seen all of your planning and your questions and I just wanted to drop a line to say that you are a really great aunt, and I hope the surprise goes off without a hitch!
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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My younger niece, I (S's little sister), declared on the phone this morning that she is now a unicorn, so she serves as inspiration for today's countdown photo😂. As with every vacation, I'm going to spend the next seven days certain that I'm forgetting something pivotal, and making an unnecessary amount of Target runs; only to find that I have, in fact, forgotten nothing at all. I think it's a bit amped this time because we're in the home stretch and I want to make sure that everything goes well.

I'm also incredibly excited about the new Tiana merch (shoutout to Disney for providing shipping services, because both my suitcase and I would be in serious trouble). How do you all get ready in the final days before your trip?
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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You know what's really helpful for your anxiety when you're already stressing about an upcoming trip? Waking up to find that your dog is covered in mysterious hives four days before you leave; which also happens to be a federal holiday and your vet is closed!
Oh No Crying GIF by CBC


Thankfully, she's showing no other distress besides being a little itchy (slight scratching and chewing on one of her legs), and is eating, drinking, playing, etc. as usual. The only educated guess that I can make is that a new shampoo was used during her bath last weekend, and since the hives are now crusting over, this would be a likely culprit; either that or she's having an allergic reaction to a bug bite🤷‍♀️? These furry friends sure do love to keep us on our toes, don't they? I was able to snag a vet appointment for early this afternoon, so we'll see what's what and go from there. Fingers crossed that she just needs a shot and/or some antibiotics.

*Sleeping Beauty was my favorite as a kid, so I'm using Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, to both mark three days out and to help calm me down*
 

Tiki Traveler

Well-Known Member
My younger niece, I (S's little sister), declared on the phone this morning that she is now a unicorn, so she serves as inspiration for today's countdown photo😂.

A younger niece? Looks like you will have another Disney trip in your future! Sleeping Beauty is a fav of mine too. Love the animation! Sending positive thoughts for a good vet visit!
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
A younger niece? Looks like you will have another Disney trip in your future! Sleeping Beauty is a fav of mine too. Love the animation! Sending positive thoughts for a good vet visit!
Yup! Between both biological and the children of my best friend who call me "Auntie", I have 5 total. I took one in 2017, took two more to Disneyland in 2022, taking S this year, taking another one to Disneyland Paris in either '25 or '26.
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just got home from the vet, and as suspected, she's having an allergic reaction to something (cause TBD, but likely either a bug bite or the shampoo). Vet gave her a steroid shot, an allergy shot, and has some antibiotics on stand by. I'll keep watching her like a hawk over the next three days, and as long as she keeps getting better, then we're all good.
 

littleroo

Well-Known Member
I hope your pup feels better quick and the meds work so you can relax. There is nothing worse than having something go wrong before vacation especially with a pet.

I am so excited to hear about your niece and her big surprise. I hope you have a magical time!!!
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Jeff Goldblum What GIF by The Late Late Show with James Corden


Does anyone else get that confusing mix of happiness to come home and overwhelming sadness that your mornings no longer consist of Mickey waffles and deciding on what park to go to? That's been me since getting back, in addition to the extra fun souvenir, aka Covid, that both my niece and I brought back with us🤧.

Now that I'm feeling much better, I'm going get started on my trip report, and can't wait to share how everything went!
 

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