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

[Princesskeyblade]

Twas the Night before Disney and all through the house
Everyone was sleeping soundly... Even Minniver was dreaming of mice....
The bags were all packed by the doorway with care
Awaiting our exit with style and some Flair!
The two of us were nestled all snug in our bed
while visions of Figment danced in our heads.
And at about 5:30 we heard from the corner
The alarm clock rang and we let out a groan.
DF looked over at me with glee
Come on now get up.... It is time for Disney!!!!


The alarm did indeed ring at 5:30 AM and we got up and DF hopped into the shower... I stayed up and took my shower before bed. I was as ready as ready can be. We grabbed a cab and headed for Logan..... We got there at 6:30 and checked in and got through security. DF grabbed coffee and I gave him his last birthday present, a coffee mug of Beauty and the Beast and a gift card to build his own lightsaber.

Then we waited.... DF wanted to see the Plane...... Meanwhile I got out the camera!

Then finally.... DA PLANE DA PLANE!!!!

Our trip was pretty uneventful.... we sat next to each other and DF caught up on Lost and I watched old shorts from Disney's early years on my IPod. When we landed in Baltimore.... our connecting flight was just about to take off..... We just made the plane, and we were smushed in our row with a man much larger than DF....I had the window seat, so I wrote and stared out the window! Then.... with Skull and Crossbones from POTC playing on my IPod, we made our decent!!!! After 6 and 1/2 months of waiting, we were there!

I have to take this moment to say that we are in with Magical Express! DF loves the design of the Buses and the Paper stuff (the Graphic Designer in him never takes a vacation!) but when we walked past the baggage claim and down to the desk. He was in heaven. I went down the red carpet and they welcomed me home. I couldn't help but smile. They pointed me in the direction of my bus and even took our carry ons to "assist" us out. We took the ride, and when we reached the gate we just looked at each other and jumped up and down in our seat. We got to the Boardwalk and David came over and welcomed us home to the Boardwalk! We went to check in, and we spoke with Kelly about our room. She told us about the hotel and gave Frank his Birthday button and congratulated us on our Antiversary! (We arrived one year to the date we get married!) And told us our room was ready early, so we could go right up. The last thing she said was.... "Welcome home Mr. and Soon to be Mrs. M.... "

We got up there and DF opened the door to our amazing room.... The first thing I saw was.....

Yes folks we had a balcony!!!!!! It overlooked the entry way to the hotel, but in the distance we could see the Tower of Terror.

Then I took some time to explore our room!

And the fridge was cleverly hidden!!!

We went out to grab some lunch on the Boardwalk. We went to Big River Grill, and I had spicy cheese and nacho chips, and DF had Lobster Bisque and some of my nachos.... It was awesome. We also talked about the Sox game with our server, who was from our area.....

Then we went exploring the boardwalk and bought these beauties!

We snapped some pictures in our new hats in a photobooth, and then headed back to the room, just in time for......

 

[Lady Lallie]

Just in time for........what!?!?!



Boardwalk looks beautiful!! I have always always wanted to stay there.

I thought the seats on AirTran (I think that is what the plane said)were super tight, I flew Southwest a few years ago and those seats seemed much more roomy.

 

[Princesskeyblade]

CAKE!!!! See not only was it our Antiversary.... but it was DF Birthday as well, so I ordered him a cake from Boardwalk Bakery....It was delivered to our room....

It was delicious. The cake and delivery charges were 29.95. Honestly so worth it. He loved it and I could eat it, so it was win win.


Then we headed out for the parks!!!

We took the Friendship 1 over to Epcot and made a bee line for Journey into Imagination! It was a walk on.

It was not as good as the original... but I still liked it. I love Monty Python and I love Figment so it worked for me. Although I could have done without smelling the skunk! But DF could smell in the smell lab, so I was content to smell the stink.

Afterwards we found the Figment Store!

I found a Figment sweatshirt that said "Figment since 82", since I was born in 1982, it was perfect for me, but we would pick it up later.... I didn't want to carry it around. Especially since we were planning on hitting 2 more rides (at least) before our dinner reservations!

We headed to Spaceship Earth! I liked the new version. Dame Judy Dench's voice is soothing to me.... The only scene I really missed was the big scene of Rome burning. DF felt bad that the paperboy was put in the corner. When it came to the end we saw our traveling future....

We went and stayed at the Great Wall Inn..... in China.

After that we waited 10 minutes to ride Test Track, which I LOVED! DF liked it, but another ride stole his ride loving heart.... I will get to that one later.... and I will also post the photopass photos as well.

Then the time was getting close so we began to make our way to Morrocco. We stopped in Mexico to ride the Grand Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros. I love the movie... and I love the ride.... we would ride it two more times while we were there!

Finally we reached Morrocco and went to dinner at Resturant Marrakesh....

For LL: I loved the light fixtures here....

Drink wise we got Casablanca Sunset ~ apricot brandy, orange juice, cranberry juice, topped with peach schnapps, and Marrakesh Express ~ rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, topped with dark rum.

We got the Combination Appetizer for Two as a starter - Beef brewat rolls, Chicken bastilla and Jasmina salad. The Jasmina Salad was awesome and so were the Beef brewat rolls.

I had Vegetable Couscous, steamed tiny semolina pasta served with seasonal veggies. DF had the Chicken Couscous, We both gave the meal a big thumbs up. The service was fantastic and the music and dancing was so much fun!!! They even sang happy birthday to him in their native language! It was awesome. Definately on my "everyone should try!" list!

After that we went Fez shopping....

(As you can see the conjunctivitis was still there!)

After that it was about time to go see Illuminations, so we grabbed a spot on the bridge and watched the show!

We got lots of ash on us due to wind, but the viewing spot was awesome. It was great, but by the time the trip was over it was not our favorite nighttime display.....


We went back on the boat and saw nightlife on the Boardwalk!

The juggler was right there...

Then we went up to the room.... I had a moment to appreciate the lobby...

When we got back to our room.... turndown service had been all set!

DF fell asleep almost instantly while I watched the Hulk cartoon on Toon Disney but fell asleep early as well.....

We had a long day on Saturday!

Next..... Can we be there for the opening and close the Magic Kingdom? How will my Coral Reef surprise go over... If we even get there????

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love the Morroco light! I also love the one in the Boardwalk lobby.

Sounds like Marrakesh was really yummy! I love the Fez look.

The cake looks delish too. I think the Disney Bakery on a whole is a pretty decent bargain when you are celebrating a special occasion.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Okay, I'm just about all set to ditch my WL ressie. That room looks so beautiful!

I need to stay at Boardwalk!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear more. Your Boardwalk pictures are gorgeous. There are too many resorts I want to stay at. All deluxe... go figure.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Great start!!! Can't wait to read more! Is that salt water taffy I spy on your turn down service??? We had chocolates from Africa for ours at AKL. I love that even the little details at Disney are themed!!!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

I love the Morroco light! I also love the one in the Boardwalk lobby.

I saw that light in Morroco and thought of you!!!

Okay, I'm just about all set to ditch my WL ressie. That room looks so beautiful!

I need to stay at Boardwalk!!!

Can you do a split stay? That way you can stay in both....

I'm in! Can't wait to hear more. Your Boardwalk pictures are gorgeous. There are too many resorts I want to stay at. All deluxe... go figure.

Boardwalk was awesome.... We are still trying to figure out where we want to stay in 2010....

Great start!!! Can't wait to read more! Is that salt water taffy I spy on your turn down service??? We had chocolates from Africa for ours at AKL. I love that even the little details at Disney are themed!!!

That is... We got a postcard with quotes from bedtime stories from the turn of the century and some salt water taffy.... which I am still eating now...

I love the theming.....

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

That is... We got a postcard with quotes from bedtime stories from the turn of the century and some salt water taffy.... which I am still eating now...

I love the theming.....

Soo cool. I have a bag of African chocolates at home too that I'm trying not to eat!! We got cards with african artwork and proverbs with the chocolates.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Can you do a split stay? That way you can stay in both....
..

Sadly I'm already doing a split stay - WL and POP. Without a good code Boardwalk is sadly out of the question for a solo stay. (The basic AAA code is just not enough to cut it). I've been toying with the idea of renting points to stay there, but just not sure how I feel about having such a lack of control over my ressie. If I actually knew who I was renting from I might feel differently, but without that I don't know if I'll chance it.

I'll have to live vicariously through you. Those newly renovated rooms are just gorgeous.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Sadly I'm already doing a split stay - WL and POP. Without a good code Boardwalk is sadly out of the question for a solo stay. (The basic AAA code is just not enough to cut it). I've been toying with the idea of renting points to stay there, but just not sure how I feel about having such a lack of control over my ressie. If I actually knew who I was renting from I might feel differently, but without that I don't know if I'll chance it.

I'll have to live vicariously through you. Those newly renovated rooms are just gorgeous.

You can't do a AAA code with a package can you?

 

[Sarilas]

You can't do a AAA code with a package can you?

Yep, you can! AAA even has travel agents who'll do it all for you.

 

[If U Had Wings]

You can't do a AAA code with a package can you?

Yes, but in order to get the package an AAA agent has to book it for you. You can book a room only on your own with an AAA discount, but if you want the AAA package you have to book through AAA.

I'm going without the package this time. I already have a 5 day pass, and to do a package with the split stay I'd have to buy 2 one day passes. Just doesn't seem worth it. I bought a gift card at World of Disney NYC last month, and the plan is to keep adding to it and use it for my food purchases. I started it with $50. Paydays (2 Xs a month) I add $20, and Fridays (part time job payday) I add $10. If I want to add more that's fine, but that's my minimum. Once I get to my budgeted amount I'm going to do the same thing for my spending/souvenier money. I figure with over a year to go I have plenty of time to have a nice amount on the cards before the trip. It's going to be my version of the dining plan.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yes, but in order to get the package an AAA agent has to book it for you. You can book a room only on your own with an AAA discount, but if you want the AAA package you have to book through AAA.

I'm going without the package this time. I already have a 5 day pass, and to do a package with the split stay I'd have to buy 2 one day passes. Just doesn't seem worth it. I bought a gift card at World of Disney NYC last month, and the plan is to keep adding to it and use it for my food purchases. I started it with $50. Paydays (2 Xs a month) I add $20, and Fridays (part time job payday) I add $10. If I want to add more that's fine, but that's my minimum. Once I get to my budgeted amount I'm going to do the same thing for my spending/souvenier money. I figure with over a year to go I have plenty of time to have a nice amount on the cards before the trip. It's going to be my version of the dining plan.

That's what I thought about the packages.

I like the gift card idea. Does anyone know if the resturaunts take Disney Dollars?

 

[If U Had Wings]

I believe anywhere in Disney World takes the cards and dollars. There were practically no restrictions on the gift cards, so I would guess the dollars would work the same way.

I know Disneyland has lots of limitations on the gift cards. When I bought my card there was a whole list of places that don't take the card on there.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm here -- now I need to go back and read.

 

[Princesskeyblade]

On Saturday the phone rang early…. Like 6:45 early…. And DF held the phone to my ear and I could hear Stitch…. He was my hero, and got up first, leaving me to lie in bed and get a few minutes of extra sleep.

I got up and took a shower, got ready and then walked out to the balcony…. To this sight:

Yep folks, it was going to be beautiful day.

I grabbed my Sox hat and my bridal ears and we headed out for adventure!

We went and caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom... and took the Monorail to the Contemporary.

DF loves the monorail. In fact, he keeps saying to me, that he wants to stay at a resort on the monorail. As long as I get to go back in 2010 we can stay where he wants!

We got down to Chef Mickey’s, checked in, got congratulated and made our way to the table.

This is a good time to tell you… DF has been to Disney but never had the “Disney Experience”. A prime example of this is ….. He has never had any interaction with any characters at all. His parents just took them for the rides… he had never even seen the fireworks! So this was all new to him. He was very skeptical about characters before we left calling them babyish! I was going to change that!

We grabbed food and got our orange juice. The orange juice I had been DREAMING about. I love the orange juice at sit down restaurants in Florida. Nothing like fresh squeezed orange juice to start a day!

We sat down and were instantly visited by Goofy!!!!!

He signed the autograph book and gave me a hug and checked out the ring and then told Frank what a great job he did picking me out! This caused a laugh from DF and I knew he was cool with it!

Next up was Minnie, who wanted to pose with my DF.

And then the main man himself …. MICKEY….

We talked to him about the meal and Mickey mentioned he made it…. DF and him talking about it was too cute!

They brought over a cupcake for us after that, and we blew out the candles!

Then Pluto came over….

We missed Donald because we were so busy with Pluto…I knew we would see him later though so we headed out towards the Magic Kingdom…. Via monorail.

Then we saw it….. THE CASTLE!

We passed through bag check and there we were at the gates of the Magic Kingdom!

Up Next: Our reaction to the castle….. When is the best time to get a photopass photographer? What does DF suggest for the horror family from heck eat? And the meal of my dreams!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Awww. You two are just so adorable!! The pictures of you two with the characters are oh so cute!

 

[If U Had Wings]

LL, you always beat me to the comments.

The pictures came out great. I hope he had fun with the characters at breakfast!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

The pictures came out great. I hope he had fun with the characters at breakfast!

He did have a blast with the characters..... However it was later that another character won the best interaction with DF award.....