I know it all looks bleak now, but remember, many of us have been through this 'trip is falling apart' thing, and many of us use these trips as something happy to focus on to not think about other, less happy things. So when they do fall apart, WE fall apart too, because our emotions are tied up in them. So you are not alone! We are all in it together!
So, let's first cross our fingers and hope that something works out for this year and the check will speed through the red tape and fall into your hands - so you can either make a very last-minute, haphazard Halloween trip or a holiday trip or something. But if not, then it wasn't meant to be.
As for the Diva trip, I can
totally understand how you'd feel guilty for doing another Diva trip and being at DLR without the kids for a second time, in which case a combo Diva/family trip would be ideal. But then, as you said, you wouldn't make it back for the holidays (or Halloween, either, presumably)...possibly for a very long time.
Let's then assume that the plans for this year cannot be worked out. I know I am about to incur the wrath of 1000 Divas by suggesting this but....could you possibly skip the Diva trip in 2012 and then just put all your 'eggs' into one great big Halloween or Christmas DLR basket in 2012? (
I'm ducking and hiding right about now!
) I know it seems like it will be an eternity from now before Halloween or Christmas 2012 get here, but is that a possibility? You could still make the reservations and get all the plans in motion, but it would just be a longer wait.
But I guess it boils down to how important it is to get the kids to Disneyland ASAP (for the Diva trip), or if it will be more worthwhile to wait until you all can make a Halloween or Christmas visit. The Diva trip would kill two birds with one stone, of course - seeing the Divas and taking the family on a DLR trip. But then you might not be doing a Halloween or Christmas trip until at least 2013.
Just running different scenarios around in my mind...
What's that saying? Run it up the flagpole and see if it flies?