A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Hello, we are the Shaners! Thank you for taking the time to visit our page! We have two reasons for running this fundraiser:

1.) We are trying to start up two websites. One is a Disney-related site which will be based upon our current blog (this happy place), and the other will be a general travel site sharing our adventures, hotel reviews, beautiful photography and tips we learn along the way. This leads us to...

2.) We are also trying to fund a trip that will serve a purpose to both websites. We are planning a trip to Anaheim, California for the Disney D23 Expo...the official fan convention (think Comic-Con for Disney geeks). Though we have been to the expo in years past, this will be the first year we are going to do more than simply attend. We will be reporting about the event on our blog as well as via social media. This will essentially be a business trip where we don't get paid. In addition, this will also be the first expo where we have to make a significant trip. Since the last expo, we moved from the desert Southwest to the Upper Midwest. We can no longer hop in the car and drive there with ease. Since this will be a full on trip for us, we are hoping it will be our first report for our travel site as well...the non-Disney parts, that is. A dual purpose trek!

Like Carl and Ellie from the movie "Up", we have saved every little bit to make this trip. However, life seems to always get in the way of your dreams and so necessities come first and dreams go on the back burner. Such is our life. With only one income and a blogging job that doesn't pay, we were about to cancel the trip altogether due to lack of funds, but an amazing and MAJOR (I can't stress enough how MAJOR) opportunity to help our dream grow was presented to us. This chance will be one step closer to starting at least one of the websites! Now the trip to the Expo is a must-do! If we do not go, this kind of opportunity will likely not come again. This is our shot...and we need to go for it!

Check out this page for a small taste of one of our past adventures...this is only a miniscule part of what we're trying to build for our travel site. The cost of lodging and expo tickets alone is $600. If we are fortunate enough to raise any additional funds, those will be used to fund additional adventures we can share with our readers! We want to share ideas and tips with fellow travelers. We have to experience things in order to do so.

All monies raised through this fundraiser will be used solely for the purposes mentioned above. Please note that in the future when the websites are up and running, we plan to hold fundraisers for charities and we currently contribute a portion of all proceeds from our Zazzle shop (Carousel of Color) to local charities. 

Everyone who donates will receive a form of thank you gift to show our appreciation for your generosity. Check out the sidebar for the various levels. Every dollar helps!!! Even if you can only donate $1, we will be eternally grateful!

Please help us to realize part of our dreams!

UPDATE: Thanks to an anonymous donor, we were able to secure the domain names for BOTH of our new sites! We are still searching for affordable hosting, but it's a step in the right direction! We have less than 2 weeks to pull this trip together. Please consider helping us make this dream grow!