cockermom
04-23-2003, 01:27 PM
(Apologies from the start, if this is a bit long. It's my first trip report, and I'm told that I do tend to run on.)
It actually started 5 years earlier, in December, 1997, when DH and I were winding up a wonderful week at WDW commemorating our 25th anniversary. I'd suggested that we come back to celebrate our 30th anniversary and make it a family trip by bringing our two 20-something sons along. After all, they hadn't visited Mickey's place since our last family trip in '87; there'd be lots of new things to see and do. And we might not have many more opportunities for the four of us to get off together.
We gave them the happy news at Christmas that year, and that's when I realized that DH and I had different definitions of a "family trip." To him, it meant, "if you guys want to come along, then start saving and make your reservations." To me it meant that the trip would be a treat from Dad and Mom. It probably took all of two seconds (if that) for our sons to decide that they preferred Mom's proposal.
December of 2002 seemed a long way off at the time, but I'm a firm believer in the journey being as much fun as the destination. For five years, we had a large poster on the kitchen wall with the calendar month noting the date of our upcoming trip, surrounded by pictures of WDW sites and characters. (And it gave us plenty of time to start stashing away funds to pay for this vacation to remember. We don't do credit cards.)
And the days did go by. Finally it was time to book our reservations. I put DH and I into the Beach Club and our sons into the Boardwalk Inn. (We really do get along. Just figured that "the boys" would enjoy the nightlife of the Boardwalk.) Airfare was reserved on the first possible day. And DH and sons started receiving monthly emails from "Mickey" counting down the days till we'd all see him. (OK, that was me.)
And it truly was magical! :minnie: For more than a year, I'd been driving everyone crazy with all the WDW books and my preparations and plans for the trip. But as soon as we pulled up to the Boardwalk Inn and spotted the adults sporting those hats with the Mickey Mouse ears, our older son said that here was truly a place where his weird mother would fit right in.
Part of our splurge was the Discovery Magic vacation plan with the Magical Wishes. Oh, I know it's probably not the most economical way to visit WDW, but it sure was fun! :D We used the wishes for dinners and had plenty left for activities and souvenirs. And did we ever eat!! Ever the planner, I'd made a ton of PS's four months earlier. So many restaurants, so little time - even with a week's worth of meals. But we dined at a number of places that we'd always wanted to try. Breakfasts were partaken at Cape May Cafe, 1900 Park Fare, Kona Cafe, Boma, Chef Mickey's and the Yacht Club Galley. For lunch, we hit San Angel Inn, the Biergarten, Tony's Town Square Rest., Hollywood & Vine, the Dophin Fountain and DisneyQuest's FoodQuest. Dinners were thoroughly enjoyed at Fulton's Crab House (a major YUM!), Le Cellier, Rose & Crown, Portobello Yacht Club, Restaurant Marrakesh and Cinderella's Royal Table.
It may be hard to believe, but we did do more than eat. In addition to the parks (Animal Kingdom was a first for all of us - wonderful!! We even saw DeVine!), we played miniature golf at Winter Summerland (DH and older son also played 18 holes at Eagle Pines one afternoon), had our family portrait taken with The Mouse, himself, at Studio M (that photo is probably my favorite souvenir). Gotta love those Magical Wishes! Also attended the Candlelight Processional, experienced Illuminations several times and shopped, shopped, shopped. (It was the first time that we had to rush out and buy an extra suitcase to load all our goodies - OK, it was mostly my purchases). But one of the nicest surprises was how much our adult sons enjoyed themselves - much more than I think even they expected.
Planning and dreaming is so enjoyable that on New Year's Day, I broached the subject of another trip. It's a little farther in the future 'cause DH wants to plan/save for a trip to England/Scotland/Ireland first. (sounds good to me!) But come the first two weeks of December 2009, DH and I will be on our first ever cruise (on the Disney Cruise Line, of course) followed by a week at WDW. Am hoping to stay at the Yacht Club for most of the week and, if I can talk DH into it, spend the last couple of nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. He's not completely sold on the idea of changing resorts mid-vacation. Don't laugh, but I've already started a list of the restaurants I'm hoping to experience on that next trip!
Can't wait!!
Barbara :clap: [/i]
It actually started 5 years earlier, in December, 1997, when DH and I were winding up a wonderful week at WDW commemorating our 25th anniversary. I'd suggested that we come back to celebrate our 30th anniversary and make it a family trip by bringing our two 20-something sons along. After all, they hadn't visited Mickey's place since our last family trip in '87; there'd be lots of new things to see and do. And we might not have many more opportunities for the four of us to get off together.
We gave them the happy news at Christmas that year, and that's when I realized that DH and I had different definitions of a "family trip." To him, it meant, "if you guys want to come along, then start saving and make your reservations." To me it meant that the trip would be a treat from Dad and Mom. It probably took all of two seconds (if that) for our sons to decide that they preferred Mom's proposal.
December of 2002 seemed a long way off at the time, but I'm a firm believer in the journey being as much fun as the destination. For five years, we had a large poster on the kitchen wall with the calendar month noting the date of our upcoming trip, surrounded by pictures of WDW sites and characters. (And it gave us plenty of time to start stashing away funds to pay for this vacation to remember. We don't do credit cards.)
And the days did go by. Finally it was time to book our reservations. I put DH and I into the Beach Club and our sons into the Boardwalk Inn. (We really do get along. Just figured that "the boys" would enjoy the nightlife of the Boardwalk.) Airfare was reserved on the first possible day. And DH and sons started receiving monthly emails from "Mickey" counting down the days till we'd all see him. (OK, that was me.)
And it truly was magical! :minnie: For more than a year, I'd been driving everyone crazy with all the WDW books and my preparations and plans for the trip. But as soon as we pulled up to the Boardwalk Inn and spotted the adults sporting those hats with the Mickey Mouse ears, our older son said that here was truly a place where his weird mother would fit right in.
Part of our splurge was the Discovery Magic vacation plan with the Magical Wishes. Oh, I know it's probably not the most economical way to visit WDW, but it sure was fun! :D We used the wishes for dinners and had plenty left for activities and souvenirs. And did we ever eat!! Ever the planner, I'd made a ton of PS's four months earlier. So many restaurants, so little time - even with a week's worth of meals. But we dined at a number of places that we'd always wanted to try. Breakfasts were partaken at Cape May Cafe, 1900 Park Fare, Kona Cafe, Boma, Chef Mickey's and the Yacht Club Galley. For lunch, we hit San Angel Inn, the Biergarten, Tony's Town Square Rest., Hollywood & Vine, the Dophin Fountain and DisneyQuest's FoodQuest. Dinners were thoroughly enjoyed at Fulton's Crab House (a major YUM!), Le Cellier, Rose & Crown, Portobello Yacht Club, Restaurant Marrakesh and Cinderella's Royal Table.
It may be hard to believe, but we did do more than eat. In addition to the parks (Animal Kingdom was a first for all of us - wonderful!! We even saw DeVine!), we played miniature golf at Winter Summerland (DH and older son also played 18 holes at Eagle Pines one afternoon), had our family portrait taken with The Mouse, himself, at Studio M (that photo is probably my favorite souvenir). Gotta love those Magical Wishes! Also attended the Candlelight Processional, experienced Illuminations several times and shopped, shopped, shopped. (It was the first time that we had to rush out and buy an extra suitcase to load all our goodies - OK, it was mostly my purchases). But one of the nicest surprises was how much our adult sons enjoyed themselves - much more than I think even they expected.
Planning and dreaming is so enjoyable that on New Year's Day, I broached the subject of another trip. It's a little farther in the future 'cause DH wants to plan/save for a trip to England/Scotland/Ireland first. (sounds good to me!) But come the first two weeks of December 2009, DH and I will be on our first ever cruise (on the Disney Cruise Line, of course) followed by a week at WDW. Am hoping to stay at the Yacht Club for most of the week and, if I can talk DH into it, spend the last couple of nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. He's not completely sold on the idea of changing resorts mid-vacation. Don't laugh, but I've already started a list of the restaurants I'm hoping to experience on that next trip!
Can't wait!!
Barbara :clap: [/i]