disneybarbie
05-04-2009, 05:10 PM
Hi everyone!
Ok so I thought I would have a go at this trip report thing!
A little about me…
I have been a Disney fan for as long as I can remember... I guess it’s from watching the movies, having Disney toys, watching Disney cartoons & sensing that there is something truly magical which separates Disney from the rest of the entertainment industry.
I have been blessed with a wonderful family who completely understand my Disney obsession, and my fantastic parents took me to Walt Disney World for the first time in 1993, and then again & again, until we bought into the Disney Vacation Club in 2002, which gives us, at least, another 40 years of magic & pixie dust ;)
Ok, so while I went to school, studied for exams, went to university, got a job & worked... I’ve always found a way to keep Disney in my life. For example, I wrote my final year university dissertation on Walt Disney! I focused on ‘inspirational leadership’ and how that if a leader has a strong enough vision, a company can survive…. so the Disney Company was an obvious choice for a case study!
I met my DBF in 2004 – without being cliché, it truly was love at first sight, and we’ve been happily in love ever since. We bought our first home together in October 2007, and I am proud to be a ‘desperate mousewife’ – taking pride in our home & being domesticated!
Now, DBF – was not a Disney fan when we met.. I was actually amazed that he had barely seen any Disney movies as a child, probably because the main focus of his childhood (and still on going!) is football! However, over 4.5 years I have introduced him to the magic of Disney.. and proved that, unlike football, Mickey & Co never let you down or break your heart, like a sports team can! ;)
We went on vacation together in 2005 to Paris for a long weekend, it was wonderful.. and we planned for 2006 to go to another European city together :) but my Dad then suggested, “do you two want to go to wdw next year, use our family DVC points?” … hmm, it took me about 2 seconds to say yes!!
So that trip got booked for Sept 2006, and I planned, dreamed, planned.. and we went, stayed at the BWV.. it was more magical than I could have imagined!!
And then we were lucky enough to go again together in October 2008!! When we left on the DME in 2006, DBF had said we would come back, maybe in two years.. so, to me, that meant we are returning in 2008!!
And we did. We were a little late booking with DVC so were unable to get BWV, but this turned out to be pretty good because we got to stay at SSR instead!!
SSR was great as I had stayed at the now-extinct “Disney Institute” in 2000 with my family.. it was lovely to be so close to Downtown Disney – although we were a little upset that Pleasure Island, particularly the Adventurer’s Club, had closed the week before we arrived. Nevertheless, the location was fantastic… I had requested a room in Congress Park which was the closest SSR building to DTD – our room had a fantastic view of Fulton’s Crab House & the Rainforest Café, the walk to the Marketplace was less than 5 minutes too :) We went to Raglan Road one evening for dinner and drinks, and also Cirque du Soleil La Nouba.. highly recommended for anyone that has not experienced it!
So..
DBF's family (Mom, Dad, older sister & younger sister) have been to Florida twice before, in 2005 & 2006.. they’ve really enjoyed it – although at times it seemed it was a little overwhelming and tiring – I think because they stayed off site in Kissimee in a villa.
We’ve had two lovely holidays together as a family, the last two summers, in St Lucia & Antigua.. then in January, DBF’s Dad said those magic words “this year, we’re going to Disney World!”
I couldn’t believe it.. there’ll be 8 of us – DBF’s parents, sisters, the two of us, his sister’s boyfriend & his daughter (age 4.5)
They browsed the brochures and decided on the Yacht Club… fine with me!! I had stayed at the Beach Club in 1998, then also several times at BWV, so I thought the Crescent Lake location would be a fantastic choice, especially for onsite first-timers!!
It was all booked January 10th.. so the countdown was around 184 days (!)
Luckily, the months have flown by and it’s getting soo close now until we go, I can’t believe it!
Due to my love of all things Disney, and excessive WDW knowledge (lol).. DBF's dad was happy for me to plan the meals, park days and other activites for the whole two weeks vacation.. I felt so honoured! I bought them the official wdw Birnbaum’s guide, and asked them to tell me any restaurants or anything else that they were interested in doing, and I would include it in our plans.. however, they more or less said.. “you plan it, just tell us where to be each day!”
So I’ve had a ball! I’ve made 13 ADRs… mostly restaurants that I have been to so know that they are excellent, and also some new ones :) .. the boys (DBF, his Dad & older sister’s DBF) like to play golf, so I’ve booked them three rounds of golf at the Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista & Oak Trail.. also a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointment for the little girl.. which will be followed that evening by a Cinderella’s Royal Table dinner! The family has never been there, in fact they didn’t even know there was a restaurant in the castle! And I haven’t been since 1993.. when it was called “King Stephan’s Banquet Hall”.. and the most vivid memories I have were: the butter was shaped like Mickey, and that – when we left – my Dad said to Cinderella (who was sat alone downstairs).. “I think you’ve been stood up!” :rotfl: (Dads!! They can be sooo embarrassing ;) )
So, that’s the plans so far! I’ll keep making updates for the next 9 weeks.. then attempt a trip report when we return!
Luv, magic, & pixie dust
Barbie princess:
Ok so I thought I would have a go at this trip report thing!
A little about me…
I have been a Disney fan for as long as I can remember... I guess it’s from watching the movies, having Disney toys, watching Disney cartoons & sensing that there is something truly magical which separates Disney from the rest of the entertainment industry.
I have been blessed with a wonderful family who completely understand my Disney obsession, and my fantastic parents took me to Walt Disney World for the first time in 1993, and then again & again, until we bought into the Disney Vacation Club in 2002, which gives us, at least, another 40 years of magic & pixie dust ;)
Ok, so while I went to school, studied for exams, went to university, got a job & worked... I’ve always found a way to keep Disney in my life. For example, I wrote my final year university dissertation on Walt Disney! I focused on ‘inspirational leadership’ and how that if a leader has a strong enough vision, a company can survive…. so the Disney Company was an obvious choice for a case study!
I met my DBF in 2004 – without being cliché, it truly was love at first sight, and we’ve been happily in love ever since. We bought our first home together in October 2007, and I am proud to be a ‘desperate mousewife’ – taking pride in our home & being domesticated!
Now, DBF – was not a Disney fan when we met.. I was actually amazed that he had barely seen any Disney movies as a child, probably because the main focus of his childhood (and still on going!) is football! However, over 4.5 years I have introduced him to the magic of Disney.. and proved that, unlike football, Mickey & Co never let you down or break your heart, like a sports team can! ;)
We went on vacation together in 2005 to Paris for a long weekend, it was wonderful.. and we planned for 2006 to go to another European city together :) but my Dad then suggested, “do you two want to go to wdw next year, use our family DVC points?” … hmm, it took me about 2 seconds to say yes!!
So that trip got booked for Sept 2006, and I planned, dreamed, planned.. and we went, stayed at the BWV.. it was more magical than I could have imagined!!
And then we were lucky enough to go again together in October 2008!! When we left on the DME in 2006, DBF had said we would come back, maybe in two years.. so, to me, that meant we are returning in 2008!!
And we did. We were a little late booking with DVC so were unable to get BWV, but this turned out to be pretty good because we got to stay at SSR instead!!
SSR was great as I had stayed at the now-extinct “Disney Institute” in 2000 with my family.. it was lovely to be so close to Downtown Disney – although we were a little upset that Pleasure Island, particularly the Adventurer’s Club, had closed the week before we arrived. Nevertheless, the location was fantastic… I had requested a room in Congress Park which was the closest SSR building to DTD – our room had a fantastic view of Fulton’s Crab House & the Rainforest Café, the walk to the Marketplace was less than 5 minutes too :) We went to Raglan Road one evening for dinner and drinks, and also Cirque du Soleil La Nouba.. highly recommended for anyone that has not experienced it!
So..
DBF's family (Mom, Dad, older sister & younger sister) have been to Florida twice before, in 2005 & 2006.. they’ve really enjoyed it – although at times it seemed it was a little overwhelming and tiring – I think because they stayed off site in Kissimee in a villa.
We’ve had two lovely holidays together as a family, the last two summers, in St Lucia & Antigua.. then in January, DBF’s Dad said those magic words “this year, we’re going to Disney World!”
I couldn’t believe it.. there’ll be 8 of us – DBF’s parents, sisters, the two of us, his sister’s boyfriend & his daughter (age 4.5)
They browsed the brochures and decided on the Yacht Club… fine with me!! I had stayed at the Beach Club in 1998, then also several times at BWV, so I thought the Crescent Lake location would be a fantastic choice, especially for onsite first-timers!!
It was all booked January 10th.. so the countdown was around 184 days (!)
Luckily, the months have flown by and it’s getting soo close now until we go, I can’t believe it!
Due to my love of all things Disney, and excessive WDW knowledge (lol).. DBF's dad was happy for me to plan the meals, park days and other activites for the whole two weeks vacation.. I felt so honoured! I bought them the official wdw Birnbaum’s guide, and asked them to tell me any restaurants or anything else that they were interested in doing, and I would include it in our plans.. however, they more or less said.. “you plan it, just tell us where to be each day!”
So I’ve had a ball! I’ve made 13 ADRs… mostly restaurants that I have been to so know that they are excellent, and also some new ones :) .. the boys (DBF, his Dad & older sister’s DBF) like to play golf, so I’ve booked them three rounds of golf at the Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista & Oak Trail.. also a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointment for the little girl.. which will be followed that evening by a Cinderella’s Royal Table dinner! The family has never been there, in fact they didn’t even know there was a restaurant in the castle! And I haven’t been since 1993.. when it was called “King Stephan’s Banquet Hall”.. and the most vivid memories I have were: the butter was shaped like Mickey, and that – when we left – my Dad said to Cinderella (who was sat alone downstairs).. “I think you’ve been stood up!” :rotfl: (Dads!! They can be sooo embarrassing ;) )
So, that’s the plans so far! I’ll keep making updates for the next 9 weeks.. then attempt a trip report when we return!
Luv, magic, & pixie dust
Barbie princess: