The Cat's Out of the Bag

We finally told the kids we'll be taking them on our biggest family adventure yet! When I told them we were going to have a family meeting Sydney's first response was "Oh great! Well I'm not coming! Just pretend I'm not part of the family!" I told her to remind me of that AFTER our meeting. When we were finally all together I had each of them choose something from the bag I was holding which included items about our trip (books, maps etc). They were a bit baffled as they were pulling each item out. I didn't leave them in suspense for too long and told them we're going to the Mediterranean and staying 4 nights in Barcelona (2 nts pre-cruise and 2 nts post-cruise) and taking a 10 night Disney Cruise. They were excited beyond words! I thought they would be most excited about the cruise but they were actually very curious about Barcelona and what we would get to see there.


I can already tell there will be some laughable moments with the kids since sometimes what they mean and what comes out of their mouth are two different things. We were talking with them about visiting Herculaneum, a sister city to Pompeii, which was buried under the same eruption but is believed to be better preserved than Pompeii. The kids are very interested about this and looking forward to visiting it. Suddenly Eric asked, "So then we'll get to see alot of ass?" We all stared at him for a minute before we realized he was talking about ash. Cracked us up!


Also getting them prepared to try different types of food. Sydney will be okay with that but Eric is picky picky picky! Might be a bit of a challenge so I have already started giving him my try new foods lecture. I explained if we are in a restaurant or market and you see something you don't like it is considered very rude to say "Ew yuck!". I thought he understood until he informed me that we should probably just bring our own food! I said no.


I gave them both travel journals to write in and they love them! They immediately went to work customizing them. These journals have questions in them to give them ideas what to write about and has an area for trip planning, packing list, destinations etc. It'll be a great keepsake! Every night they want to have a little "study time" learning about where we're going.


We will be taking them out of school for 2 weeks so not sure what their teachers will think of that but I figure this is a huge learning experience. History is alot more interesting when you can actually see it for yourself!

Family Travel Ideas for 2010

Where is your next family vacation? Do you prefer a tropical setting or perhaps a big city destination is more your style. How about a theme park? The choices are endless and the benefits of traveling together are priceless. When traveling with young children and teenagers it is important to choose a vacation that provides activities for all age groups. Once you decide where to go then it’s time to check pricing, compare hotels, and buy that plane ticket!
Disney is synonymous with Family Travel. Here are a few hot Disney deals being offered. At Disneyland you will get 5 hotel nights for the price of 3 when you purchase a 3 night resort hotel package including Park Hopper passes. If your family wants to try out a Disney Cruise then now is the perfect time! Children sail FREE (when sailing with 2 full fare guests in the same stateroom) on most 3 and 4 night Bahamian cruises. Many families combine the best of both worlds and book Disney’s Land and Sea package.
Are you planning a family reunion? Cruising has become a popular choice for large family gatherings. With so many activities to choose from there seems to be something to suit everyone’s taste. Royal Caribbean just introduced their newest cruise ship called Oasis of the Seas. It has 18 decks and can accommodate almost 6300 passengers! It has an open-air park with trees and hanging gardens, a boardwalk-style area with a merry-go-round, a pool that changes into a stage for high-diving shows and a theater that has booked the Broadway musical "Hairspray."
I hope I’ve given you a few ideas as you start planning for your next family vacation. A Travel Consultant will take care of the details for you and will track all payments, make sure everyone in your travel party has the correct documentation and answer any and all questions you may have relating to your trip. Enjoy the journey and leave the planning to me!

Think Disney in the Springtime

Mediterranean cruises starting from $999* per person based on double occupancy for 10 or 11 night Mediterranean sailings on April 24 and May 5, 2010. Come explore favorite ports in Europe and venture to incredible places. Combine this with the outstanding personal service, enchanting experiences and unmatched entertainment that is distinctive to Disney Cruise Line®.

* Some restrictions apply

Purchase a 3-night, 5-day Disneyland Resort vacation package and get two more hotel nights FREE*. This package includes a 5-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket, allowing your family to enjoy favorite attractions at both Theme Parks.
Must be booked by April 1, 2010 and travel must be completed by May 4, 2010.