Pumpkins and Pirates and Cowboys... Oh my! Our dream Disney TR!

[Princesskeyblade]

Hi All! This is my first time writing one of these, but I think it will get my thoughts together, and hopefully be entertaining to you!

The Cast:

Me rincess: PKB, Tracey (26) Occupation: Paralegal , Disney Fanatic Favorite ride: Pirates of the Carabean, Journey into the Imagination. Last Trip to WDW: October 1994

DBF (37, 38 on 10/17) Occupation: Graphic Designer, Avid Animation Buff and Disney Fan. Favorite Place in Disney: World Showcase. Last Trip to Disney: 1988

Where: Boardwalk Inn
When: October 17-26, 2008


How it came to be:

DBF and I had been surrounded by WDW goers. Our friends had just gotten engaged in front of the Castle, and my Mom and GM had just gotten back from celebrating my GM Breast Cancer Remission. They all chose December, Christmas season, and had amazing things to say about it. On Christmas Day we had gathered at my GM for breakfast and gift exchange. They had the parade on and we couldn't believe how much the parks had changed. DBF was glued to the screen and kept commenting on what he didn't get to see when he last went.

Later that night, having been spoiled by family and stuffed full of food, we somehow got to talking about a real vacation this year.

rincess: - What do you have in mind?

- How about Disney?

rincess: - Are you serious?

- Seriously, let's do it!

We both woke up the next morning and talked about it a bit more before work. I ordered the DVD and when it came we sat down to check it out. We looked at the parks and our excitement meter peaked. Then it came time to look at the hotels. We both had determined that if we were going to do this vacation, we were going to go all out, everything we want. When we got to the Boardwalk Inn, we both pointed at the tv and screamed "Thats it!!!"

We started to jot down what we wanted. He wanted to go to Universal for one day, two tops. He wanted to see all of the World Showcase. I wanted the World Showcase, a trip to MNSSHP and Lunch at Cinderella's Castle. We both agreed that the trip would be 10 days.

We booked through a travel agent the day after Easter and I have been planning ever since.

Alas, break time is over. I will try and post more later!

 

[adisneymama]

Great start! Can't wait to read more. Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Yay Readers!!!!!!

Thanks! I wish I could have updated last night, but the new powercord for my laptop hasn't gotten in yet. But I am definately going to update today!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

"Why are you planning already?"

This is a very common question that the DBF asks me all the time when I break out the books or start jotting down information that I can plug into the trip info on my computer (When it actually works).

I don't think many people who have never been to Disney have no idea of the planning that goes into the trip. I explained to him that we needed to pick out the resturants and places that we really want to eat, because I have to call for ADRs in the middle of April and I wouldn't mind doing it in one go.

He understood that, but didn't understand why, six months before we leave, we have to call for reservations. My response: I really want to eat at the Castle, and to do that we have to call in advance. I had determined that since he wanted to eat his way around the World, we would choose our parks after we get the reservations.

So he listed off his prefferences and I added them to the list, and then the day for ADRs came. I took a quick shower so I could run out the door to the office as soon as the call was over. I was ready to be dissapointed.

To my surprise for every resturant we had on our list, we got awesome reservations!!!

So here is the Tentative eating schedule (there are some gaps) :

Fri 10/17:

Breakfast: Logan Airport - Au Bon Pain
Lunch: Boardwalk Hotel while we wait for our room to be ready.
Dinner: Resturant Marrakesh

Sat 10/18:

Breakfast: Chef Mickey's
Lunch: Cinderella's Royal Table (I was jumping up and down when I got that one)
Dinner: Unknown (I am thinking Tony's Town Square)

Sunday 10/19:

Completely open. This is the day that I am hoping for MNSSHP

Monday 10/20:

Breakfast: Boardwalk Bakery
Lunch: TBD, Probibly a counter service in the park of choice for the day!
Dinner: Sci Fi Cafe

Tuesday 10/21:

Breakfast: TBD
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Luau at Poly

Wednesday 10/22: *Universal Day until after dinner

Breakfast:TBD
Lunch:TBD
Dinner: TBD

Thursday 10/23:

Breakfast:TBD
Lunch: Counter Service at DHS
Dinner: Brown Derby (Fantasmic Package)

Friday 10/24:

Breakfast: TBD
Lunch:TBD
Dinner: Akershus

Saturday 10/25: (Last Chance Day)

Breakfast: TBD
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Le Chefs de France

Sunday 10/26: Homebound Day

Breakfast: Room Service
Lunch: Orlando Airport
Dinner: DBF Parents' House?

DBF is now to me.... I got the places he wanted.

So now I can see what days would be good to be in what park.

Time to work. I will add a little more in a bit.

 

[adisneymama]

Sounds like a good plan! Why is it so hard to plan our days and adr's anyway? LOL That is the part that kills me the most!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Sounds like a good plan! Why is it so hard to plan our days and adr's anyway? LOL That is the part that kills me the most!

I know... I really took the planning process my Grampy used to go through to bring me for granted. I had no idea what to expect when I started planning, mainly because I never had to before, but I think I am doing ok so far...

I so can not wait for my vacation. I need the break from being in the office. Because I work for the government, I get my vacation at the begining of the Fiscal Year. I have a feeling that a mental health day is in my future.

The problem with Fridays is that every one else leaves and the paralegal and I are the only ones in the building because leaving at 12:30 is not in our contract.

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Yay for Early release! My boss decided it was too gorgeous to keep us in and let us out at 3...

So I went and grabbed my stuff for my Disney Binder at Staples.

I'll put up pics as soon as I 1) have time to put it together and 2) figure out how to get pics up here.

 

[LuccaDrake]

I'm in! Also nice to see someone from NE with a PTR! Can't wait to hear about the rest of the planning!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

I'm in! Also nice to see someone from NE with a PTR! Can't wait to hear about the rest of the planning!

Thanks!!! I can't wait to write more...

I would have this morning, but the DBF and I are experiencing the wonders of food poisoning and no sleep so I will update as soon as I can!

Stay tuned.... I should have more by this evening!

 

[LuccaDrake]

Awww...you poor things! I hope you both feel better soon!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Awww...you poor things! I hope you both feel better soon!

Thanks ... We are doing better!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

DBF and I met about 2 1/2 years ago at a mutual friends house. Those friends are gamers and they were hosting a weekend of games at their house, as they do every year. (We are gaming geeks too.) I remember seeing him for the first time and thinking how cute he was. He was at the time dating a friend of mine. Fast forward months later; he had ammicably broken up with our friend months before. We met to go to the movies just as friends and we started hanging out a bit more. We realised that we had a lot in common, but for two months had never mentioned anything about starting a relationship.

Finally, we had taken a half day to see a movie... about half way through the movie, I felt his hand grab ahold of mine. I looked over at him and we shared our first kiss.

We had been through a lot in our separate lives before we got together. DBF almost died from a rare form of cancer almost 4 years ago. He got the news on Friday that his semi annual testing has been reduced to once a year. (Which had us both pretty emotional) I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2003 and since there is no cure, I have been in remission for 3 years, and every once in a while it will act up. He is an amazing man though, and takes the best care of me when that happens.

We are now living happily by the seashore. And counting down to the summer (or as we say here "summah") and even more so til October. We have spent the winter running around and visiting everyone. It will be nice to get a vacation away. Disney will be our first non gaming vacation away.

Here is a picture of us from last summer at Fenway.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Hello! What a great start to your PTR. I am happy to see a fellow Massachusetts-er. Although, I am from Maine orginally. Keep up the good work!
We are hoping to go to MNSSHP as well, I can't wait! Are you going to dress up?

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Hello! What a great start to your PTR. I am happy to see a fellow Massachusetts-er. Although, I am from Maine orginally. Keep up the good work!
We are hoping to go to MNSSHP as well, I can't wait! Are you going to dress up?

Welcome! I am glad you are enjoying this.

We are definately dressing up for MNSSHP. I think DBF is going to be a pirate and I would love to be Belle.

Are you going to dress up for the Halloween Party?

 

[Princesskeyblade]

One of the things that has been kinda tough with thinking about going back to Disney is that I have never been without my Grandpa. I used to call him Grampy (because Grumpy was taken by a dwarf). He used to do all the planning and was like a kid in a candy store when we would sit down to talk about where we wanted to go. My grandmother would most of the time veto some of our choices (Cinderella's Castle has too many people trying to be there. The crowds will be too much.) But we didn't care. We were going to Disney World.

It was the only time in his life that he let go of everything and just became a kid again. He was always a kid with me anyway, but it was the only time that he could act like a 10 year old and not get a grow up look from my grandma (who I love but can sometimes be a pain in the you know what).

This Thursday marks the 2 year anniversary of his death. Before he got really sick we had started planning a trip for us to go back and go for the segway tour and just be kids again. Then he got sick and got better and got sick again. He passed away after spending four months in the hospital. His death was really hard on me as he was my first best friend. We were usually inseperable. It was especially hard because he was in his 60's; so he was really young.

The reason why I felt compelled to write this this morning is my mom called me and she and my grandma want to give us an activity that we can do to remember him. I suggested to her that she gives us all the activities that me and him used to run for upon our entry into the park. They wanted to do something that costs money, but I told them this would be the best way. So they are buying us our mouse ears in addition. (We want 2 pairs, 1 regular and one bride/groom set (His suggestion: for when he finally pops the question or if he has by then, it won't happen at Disney he says, but it may happen sooner rather than later.) )

Anyway thanks for reading... a happier post later. I promise!

 

[lotferg]

This is a great start! I cannot wait to find out how things go!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

As I mentioned before, the two of us are gamers and it just so happens that one of the biggest conventions is in August for four days of gaming fun! We have already bought our tickets to the convention, and then when we started planning for Disney, DBF told me he would handle scheduling the trip to the convention, known as GenCon, and I would deal with the Disney stuff. That sounded great to me, cause I planned last years trip, and do not want to do it again. (not nearly as much fun as WDW).

The other day he reminded me that we still needed to book airfare to Indianapolis. The rooms are all set and everything else is handled. I froze, "Other trip?" He looked at me as if I had eight heads, "Yeah the trip to Indy?" He looked at me and realized I had forgotten all about it. Then we both started cracking up and realized that maybe the vacation before the vacation is going to do us some good.

Our life is NUTS right now. My work has hit its peak season. (This is my lunch because I am finishing up some "must do" stuff) I am looking forward to the summer months and reading my passporter at the beach on Cape Cod.

Another big reason for me to do the main planning for the Disney trip is the fact that DBF's birthday is on our arrival date. I want to plan some really great surprises for him for his birthday. I am planning to have a cake waiting in our room when we get there, he is getting his own lightsaber (Built by him at DTD), and I have informed the Morrocan Resturant that he may require a "birthday bellydance". But I want to do something really special and unique. He tries not to make a big deal of his day, but I know he is really excited to be at Disney for his birthday. He likes to be closer to the fireworks, so I don't think that he would like going on a birthday fireworks cruise.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Queenie122]

Awesome story about Grampy

 

[Queenie122]

There's some very cool ideas in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1776310

I want to try with my hubby having dinner in one of the resorts then getting to the beach at the Poly and watching the fireworks from there in one of the hammocks. Think of it as an extra viewing of fireworks.

We're going to try to have dinner at Victoria and Albert's then directly afterwards walk over (or monorail) to the Poly and find a hammock.

 

[Princesskeyblade]

There's some very cool ideas in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1776310

I want to try with my hubby having dinner in one of the resorts then getting to the beach at the Poly and watching the fireworks from there in one of the hammocks. Think of it as an extra viewing of fireworks.

We're going to try to have dinner at Victoria and Albert's then directly afterwards walk over (or monorail) to the Poly and find a hammock.

I like the hammock area idea. We are there on that Tuesday for the Luau... I also like the idea of a carriage rides.