A month ago, I logged into Travelocity and saw that plane flights to Florida were cheap. Real cheap. Like we could all get down there for $800. I've been itching to visit my family down there.  

When I told my mom that we were planning on going down to Florida, she said, "you can't go to Florida and not go to Disney World."

"Uh, yes, we can."

"Laura, you have to go. The children will love it."

So, mom talked us into going to Disney World for two days, too.

Disney World isn't really my thing. I know that some people love it and even go there without kids. I met some people who went there on their honeymoon. To each to their own. It does confuse me, though, why someone would go to a Fake France at Epcot Center, when one can go to Real France for less money and get better food. 

Actually, my dream vacation would be to go on a tour of ramen restaurants in Japan. Gotta love that there are ramen bloggers. (Check out the video.)

I'm sure we'll have a great time at Disney World. I mean, you've got to have a pretty huge stick up your ass not to have a good time at Disney World. I do have a couple of permanently snobby friends who not be able to dislodge the stick. I'm sure we'll get sucked into the madness the moment we get there.

By the time we coordinated the dates with my cousins and assured that we had enough funds for the trip, it was two weeks later. The prices of plane trips had doubled.

Buying airplane tickets is like speculating on the stock market. The prices fluctuate wildly. I suppose if we traveled more often, I would have recognized that the $800 fare that I found four weeks ago was spectacular and snapped it up immediately. Instead, it's going to cost us quite a bit more.

My Uncle Naren watches the air flights constantly. He's like a travel day trader. He and my aunt followed their kids down to Florida a few years ago, but aren't quite at home there. My uncle is retired and hasn't gotten into the Florida life style. He would prefer to be in Atlantic City anchored to a slot machine. So, he finds insane plane flights and comes back up here all the time. He found $50 tickets last month. I should have hired him to find us a good deal, too.

Now we're printing out maps of the Magic Kingdom, figuring out travel time from West Palm Beach to Orlando, and finding bathing suits. It should be fun.