1st trip home ... how perfect can a vacation be??

[Dreamfinder2]

It started when we arrived at the OKW gate Monday about 5 PM. The young lady - had to be "Cat", based on other threads - said, "I could see your smile as soon as you turned the corner! Welcome home!"

I know I had this goofy grin splashed all over my face. "Would you mind saying that again, please?"

She smiled so big that her face split from ear to ear. "Welcome HOME!"

And people, it was like that for the rest of the week. From the absolutely painless check in, to the impeccable 2BR, to our park assaults, we had an absolute blast. While DW, DD, and I were long, long time Disney veterans, DD's 15-year-old friend had never been. When we all got our collective first look at our 2BR (6340), we just gasped. DD's friend Julie said, "this is OURS for the week?"

Well, yeah, it did rain daily, but never more than a couple of hours, and it tended to cool things down a bit. Crowds were significant, but I don't recall more than a 30-minute-wait for anything. I could wax poetic for such things as our first Space Mountain ride of the day ... when we got off the ride (we'd been on the right-hand track), a CM, who must've been a lead, said, "You enjoyed that so much, would you like to try the other track?" And he took us "backstage," to the other side, and rode with us on the other track. The girls were estatic, and it was just one of those wonderful pixie dust events that make Disney so special.

Lord, I hope I never take what we have for granted. My wife, who was just a bit more nonchalant about DVC than I was, said to me one night as we were on our balcony looking over the golf course before turning in, "You know something, pal? You were right."

I just keep thinking about the teenagers' faces when they got to hug Pooh - and, on a more typical note, their faces when they got to hug Aladdin ("He was HOT," said DD.)

I'd like to announce, with trembling pleasure, that the dream is alive.

[perdidobay]

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[pwoodham]

I cannot believe it. I've read alot of posts on this board. Yours is the first that made me miss WDW so much I've got tears in my eyes!!

[Regina]

Dreamfinder! What a great way to start a Monday!:D

You described the magic of DVC perfectly!

[Lars624]

Sounds like a great trip! I can't wait for my 1st trip home in Feb.
I got a little misty reading your story!!!:p

[SleepyatDVC]

Goose Bumps!!!! :p

You made me so homesick!! :(

61 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Laurabearz]

All I can say is...... I know how ya feel!

Thanks for the great post!!!

[dizneeluvr]

THANK YOU for sending a little bit of that Disney magic my way!!!

There is NO place in the world where my family feels more happy. You know, the kind of face splitting smiles that you hope never end!

Thanks!

Laura

[donmil723]

Gee, I was really glad to read the other posts and know I wasn't the only one who got teary eyed reading your report. Maybe Disney doesn't do everything perfect, but they sure are tops in my book. Thanks for the report. It really did capture the magic we feel when we're at WDW.

Donna

[slc224]

What a way to brighten my day!!!!! My heart is racing right now sharing in your excitement:D :D :D

[Credit Man]

What a great post! Glad your vacation was magical.

[SamSam]

What a wonderful post! Thank you so much for making my day a little brighter. I'm looking forward to our first trip home in November. Reading your post has me trying to figure a way to squeeze in a quick trip a little sooner! :) :D :D

[jimmytammy]

I have had a monday X 10 kind of day and reading your post made me smile. THANKS! We are going home for the first time in Dec. and I am hoping my DW gives me the same reaction yours did. That would make it all worth it. Glad you had such a great trip home!!

[twinglefam]

Just the kind of post that I read this board for. You can't explain Disney any better.....it's magic.

[Granny]

Great to hear your first trip home was so perfect! But I think your attitude assured that no matter what! :D

Some might recall what my DW called my "goofy grin" on our first trip "home" a couple of months ago. If you come in with the right attitude, and roll with the inevibable punches, you can't go wrong with a WDW/DVC vacation!

Obviously the rain didn't deter your enthusiasm either.

Thanks for sharing that enthusiasm with all of us! :D

[Dreamfinder2]

Gee, I didn't necessarily mean to move y'all to tears, but even today I'm still sitting around in bemused wonder at what a great time we had - and this is after over 100 trips to Disney during the last thirty years.

Yes, I understand that Disney is a big ol' multinational corporation. Yes, I know they make money from us. Yes, I know there are some things that should be done differently.

You know what? As long as I can feel the way I do right now, I don't care. We've chosen to buy into the magic. Try putting a dollar value on THAT!

As my 15-year-old DD said, "You're gonna be the GREATEST granddaddy to my kids. They'll be saying, 'When's PawPaw gonna take us to Disney World again?'"

Priceless.

And come December, when we sit down to Christmas dinner at VWL, and my 83-year-old mamma is with us, and my 19-year-old Marine is home on leave, we'll all sit back after stuffing ourselves silly and collectively know in our heart of hearts that this is the stuff of memories.

It's a gift to cherish, isn't it?

[baileybrad]

for a wonderful post. So glad that your trip was all that you hoped it would be.

[Lars624]

Oh geez Dreamfinder...you got me again! (sniff-sniff)
Only a true Disney lover would understand the feeling you're talking about, and only us Disney junkies can feel it by just reading about other people's experiences.
This year not only us and our 3 kidsbut also my parents, my in-laws, BILS, SILS and niece & nephew are coming along on our trip so I can completely understand what you're saying!
:earsgirl: :earsboy:

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by Dreamfinder2
I'd like to announce, with trembling pleasure, that the dream is alive.

Dreamfinder2 you've just put a lump in my throat. On our first trip home, I heard my DW on the phone with her mother saying "he did good".:)

What a feeling we all share and the world would be a better place if all could experience the magic the way we do. Thanks for your report.

[POOH&PIGLET]

Dreamfinder2 - AWESOME POST!!!

Just think, you have 40 more years of magical moments to look forward to! :sunny:

[Kacey]

You put a SMILE on my face, Dreamfinder2!!:D :D

What a delightful post!

Thanks!

[LUVDVC]

We just got back from OKW and HHI last week, and I read this thread and got all choked up again. I am still filled to capacity with the magic of our trip and our experiences. That's all I talk about, but no one outside of this group understands why.

Dreamfinder2, you managed to articulate the feelings of so many of us. I'm so glad your trip was all you wished for!

[BCV23]

Just perfect...Disney should hire you. Thanks for expressing so well the magic we all share.

[allforpooh]

Dreamfinder2,

Wow.....

I know my husband thinks I am crazy and the people at work think I'm a nut, but I cannot wait to hear the first Welcome Home...

Thanks for the great post,

[DoeWDW]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful vacation magic with us. Posts like this will help me get through the next 74 days until my first trip home as a DVC member.

I'm glad to know there are so many others who share the Disney magic we feel every time we visit the Mouse.

[danareed]

I loved your post! I long for the day that we can be DVC members and read this board regularly trying to learn more info.

The "DVC junkie" thread is hilarious,but I agree with others, if it's magic for your family that's what matters!!! The kids in my Sunday School class tease me about my Disney "addiction", but just yesterday I looked at our pics again and got teary thinking "Now that was a good time!"

Dana

[JulesMom]

Thanks for the great report!!!

I can't wait to go home in June!!!!!!!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Peggy Sue]

Thank you!

What a wonderful uplifting message...and so glad to hear you all had such a wonderful vacation.

There's nothing like the magic of disney. Those that have never been, can not understand until they have experienced it for themselves..and DVC is like adding icing AND ice cream onto an already wonderfully delicious cake!

You did a great job expressing the wonderful feelings we all experience when we are visiting the mouse!

Now, my only wish was our vacation was just around the corner instead of a few months away! Ahhh...sweet anticipation!

[zoey452]

I'll bet your daughter doesn't quite realize that yet, but she will! Believe me, she will!

[patsal]

:) :) :) :cool: :) :) :) ;)