Dan's Trip Reports revisited--Fetal II--Part 4

[Dan Murphy]

I am posting this 'old' trip report for the 3rd time. The previous ones were lost in board updates. Over the months, I have received emails to repost these, as well as I have seen references to them on the Community Board, requests to repost, and some folks don't know what they were. At the time, December, '99 and January, '00, they were somewhat unique. They were enjoyed then, hopefully they will again.

When somebody told me, regarding my next Trip report, that it was like waiting for “The Soprano’s” to return, I figured I better get going And apparently I lost. So!

This is the yada, yada, yada part.

For those of you who have read my Embryo, Parts I and II, and Fetal Development, Part I, you seem to have liked it, so I won’t change now. I continue to present my trip report in a somewhat different than normal fashion, (don’t know if that was prudent, in retrospect, LOL), since I think our trip developed somewhat differently than many trips do. In life, there is first an embryo, then fetal development, and then a glorious birth of a baby. I'm hoping to present my story along those lines, in 3 parts, (actually now at least 5 because the Embryo and then Fetal wound up too big and grew, (appropriate) to 2 parts each. I have previously posted Embryo Parts I and II and Fetal, Part I. If you would like to visit, or revisit those please see immediately below.

Click on Writer Mickey to read Dan's Embryo Part I


Click Painter Mickey to read Dan's Embryo Part II


Click on Reading Group for Dan's Fetal Development, Part I

Today I will finally continue, (jeeesssshhhh), to the second part of, Fetal Development. To once again, set “the stage”,

As the kids were growing up, we always said, “We should go to Disney World.” It was always, “not enough time”, or “we don’t have the money to do it “this” year”. Well that changed in 1998/99.


The Crew:

A picture of the "crew" taken on what ultimately was our "Celebration Illuminations 2000 Cruise"



Dan Murphy—me, age 55, Financial Planner
Marie—my dear wife, a few years my younger, full time mom, spouse, and homemaker
Natalie—my dear daughter, turned 19 on our trip, first year college student
Vincent—my dear son, age 22, working towards becoming a firefighter

Our Magic Time:

Sunday, November 28th—Monday, December 6th


Click to go to Dan's DIS Web Page

I do want to say here, early in this report, that the major “emotion” type stuff, for lack of better phraseology, is behind us in these Trip Reports, I think. When I started writing these, I honestly did not think they would go where they seem to have gone. I will again, (am I repetitive, or what), thank all of you for your kind words, but what follows will probably be more mundane than those previous. That said,

As I concluded my previous Trip Report, the Murphy’s were now able to shout, as the now famous declaration shouts, <font color=blue>“We’re going to Disney World!”</font color>
The “Mouse” had worked his charm.
<IMG height=125 src=http://www.disneyanaexchange.com//Photobin/WZZ-Magic.jpg>

Now, the task ahead was to build the best ever trip for Marie and the kids. I had about 4 months to accomplish that. I started almost immediately, that night, Marie’s birthday. As the little family birthday party was winding down, and the excitement ebbed into cleaning up the dishes, etc. (they are always there regardless the event, LOL), I slipped over to what has since become a fairly common place for me, my chair at he PC in our bedroom.

I logged on to the Internet and went to, (no, not DIS), but rather the “Midwest Express Airlines” (MEA) web site. For those of you who are unaware of MEA, it is a “regional” airline, based out of Milwaukee, WI, that provides “first class type” seating and service on all its flights, for roughly the same price as regular coach, with all the advanced discounts, etc, as any other “traditional” airline. We live about 15 minutes from O’Hare and about 90 minutes from Milwaukee. As an aside, it is a fabulous airline that I would recommend to anyone; great ROOMY seats and great service with REAL meals. This was our “Dream Trip”. I checked the availability, certainly not for the first time, of air flights the week after Thanksgiving, from Monday, November 29 thru Monday, December 6. Yeessss! They were available! Quick, call CRO to try and change my existing Thanksgiving week ressie to a week later. “Yes, we have lots of openings the week after, which would you like, Mr. Murphy?” With that, I changed from the week of, to the week after, a blessing with the crowds that we ultimately heard were at WDW Thanksgiving week.

With the ressie now changed to the week after Thanksgiving, I got back online to secure the necessary flights from MEA for our trip. They were still available. I ordered and paid for, all over the Net in about 10 minutes. Isn’t life simple nowadays?

Now I started gearing up big time. Most of my resource material came right from here,

I learned how to navigate the DIS quickly and with determination. I found the whole “Vacation Planning” section and the wealth of information it contains…The parks, the restaurants and reviews, PS’s, the “extras” like fireworks cruises and Holiday happenings, packing tips, and so much more to make the trip just a lttle bit better.

Then I discovered a part of the DIS I had not really explored before, The Trip Report Board. I started reading voraciously. I am right now looking at some of the reports that I printed out and used to no end, I will name but a few; there were soooooo many. For those so many not mentioned, you are not forgotten—you all went with us, trust me.

Two of the earliest I have are from Board Moderator, Candie, talking about her “Charmed trip to the Poly”, printed from the now “old” boards in early August and another from a Board Moderator, very dear to my heart, CathyCanada, with her “My Recent Stay at the Polynesian Resort!” Hi, Cathy, and “thank-you” both.

The next one I have is a series of reports from another Moderator around these parts, our dear Snoopy . Her reports, “The Peanuts Gang Does Disney” had a mention in her first report of “the Poly check-in”, attracting me to investigate. So glad I did. Snoopy’s trip reports, as I said, a whole series, actually transcended the migration of the “old” boards to the “new” boards. Her early ones are quite different looking than her later ones, (I personally like the new style). The last series of reports I really used a lot as reference for our trip is authored by guess who? You guessed it, <font color=green>LilMermaid</font color>.
Her “LilMermaid and family do Disney”, with such detail of the Poly, led me to review and reference LM’s reports over the weeks as she produced them. LM’s Trip reports actually came somewhat later in my quest to learn, mid November or so. LilMermaid’s family wound up with a special place in my heart after reading her “Prologue” report. I was slowly becoming a “DIS’er” The above series of reports from the four mentioned Moderators became something of a “bible” for me. I looked at so many and printed so many reports and learned from all of you. I thank you all.

In late August, I called the CRO, in yet another bid to “improve our dream”. I made a post on the “Just Say Thanks Board!” after that particular call and I have essentially duplicated that “thank you” here, as I feel it important. If you already have read this in the past, either skip over it or maybe enjoy it again.

As posted on “Just Say Thanks Board!”, September 1, 1999:

Over the past year, various CM's at CRO have taken copious notes from me as I called periodically to "get a better deal", ask questions, etc. They have gotten to know me over the year, as they do put a lot of conversation notes in their computer system. Each time I called, they would usually say, "Let me read your notes", and then ask how they could help me. As we talked, they, also, would add new notes.

I finally had what I thought was a good package of price and tickets for a 7-night/8 day stay (MKC). However I was constantly trying to get a lagoon view for a truly memorable trip for all the family; but was not successful with that last piece, (lagoon view). It was not available with the MKC and the difference between a MKC garden view and a non-discounted lagoon view was just too much. I was willing to pay more but the rooms weren't available at any price.

On a call about 2 weeks ago to CRO to try again, (we all know to keep trying), I talked to CM "Xenia". She asked me to wait a minute while she read my "case". She let out a sigh and said, "My, you have been through a lot". And then, "How may I help you tonight?" I told her my request, (lagoon view, and, if available, I can pay more, but hopefully not too much more). She initially responded, "I don't thing so." But a moment later, before I could respond to yet another turn down, she said, "Let me go check a few things. Can you wait a couple minutes?" I said, "Sure". Well, about 5-7 long minutes later she comes back and says, "Are you still there?" I said, "Yes". She went on, "Tinkerbell just flew by and sprinkled some pixie dust--you and your family have their lagoon view room". I was so pleased, I was ecstatic. I thanked her abundantly, and then asked her the damages, (increase in price). She said, "Tink said-same price, no increase". I was staggered and it took me a minute or so of tears in my eyes with accompanying silence to speak to "Xenia". During my silence, she said, "I know you've been through a lot and when we can help people, we love to do it; you deserve it".

Well, we are <90 days to go. I am so happy for my family and hope so much they will enjoy, (kids being older and such).

My thanks to "Xenia" and the magic that Walt brought to us all and continues on in many CM's

Thank you, Xenia!”

I posted that back on September 1, 1999. If you had previously read that and did again, thank you for rereading. I will always remember ”Xenia” As another neat footnote to that warm CRO CM encounter was that after the “business” part of that call was complete, I continued to chat for a few minutes with Xenia about her career, etc. She mentioned that she was a singer in the holiday spectacular, “Candlelight Processional”. She said she sang in a number of the performances during the Christmas Season, described herself to me, and told me her actual position on stage in the spectacular. She told me to look for her if we attended the Candlelight Processional, (we did), and we did see Xenia on the night we attended Now you tell me, “How cool is that?”

Kicking into high gear now. Over the next 60 days or so, I read a lot of DIS stuff that really gave me the fine-tuning I was looking for. Pre-trip Addiction Report--Toni, Am I nuts??--LauraF, Romance: PO vs. Poly--TexasAggie, Tell me what you like about the Poly—Tony-NJ, Topic 8-Combat vs. Leisurely Touring—Alex, Contacting Room Controller—Lou, Fresle WDW Experience—Frez, Maverick Clan Trip-Reflections/Tips/Tricks/Thoughts—Maverick, Me & the Boys—AngieIL..And wait, what’s this one here? Ahhhaaaa, BLISTER-FREE at WDW..it’s easy—from a then, total stranger, LilMermaid, , <font color=green>(where does our life lead us?</font color> ). Well, you get the picture? I was really trying to learn all there was to about WDW, to make it “the best ever”. :D

One of the reports I read, heeded the advice, and that wound up being one of the best bits of advice we received was Wilderness Trip Report on In-Touch 2-way Radio Report. More on that after we get to WDW.

Now comes a real neat part of the “Odyssey”, as I guess this thing is getting to be. LOL Late in October, Pete announced the “BIG ANNOUNCEMENT” that we all had waited to hear about for 2 weeks. Pete’s new baby, ”Dreams Unlimited Travel” was born late October, 1999. It was, as I understood it, a travel agency, specializing in WDW trips, staffed by probably the most knowledgeable group of WDW experienced individuals, totally focused on WDW, and if you wanted to use them, it was FREE. :D “Hey, who died and went to heaven?” Give me that email address and let me in the “soft opening”. I think I expressed my interest either the day of or day after the big announcement, and got in the first group Dreams handled. One of the so very neat ladies, mentioned earlier, CathyCanada <font color=blue>(hi Cathy)</font color>, was assigned to my request. She very promptly followed up with me and over the course of maybe a week, my ressie with CRO was transferred to Dreams Unlimited. Great decision! I had posted a “thank you” on the “Just Say Thanks!” Board, (I do like that Board) back then.

Well with “Dreams” sitting next to me in the planning process, if I did make a faux pas, they were there to advise, and I say advise, me of maybe a smarter way or better way of doing something, (which days for what, PS’s, etc). What a co-pilot to have on my planning journey! Wow!

Lot’s of phone calls to CRO, emails to Dreams Unlimited and I had PS’s at: Breakfasts—3 regular, 4 character, Lunch—2 regular, 1 character, Dinner—5 plus the Poly Luau. Now that was after I put my itinerary out on both the General Trip Planning and also the Trip Report Boards and the consensus was that we were indeed going to eat well. LOL When I put those out for review, I did get many very good replies and quite a number of them were implemented. I thank you all. Two responders that stand out in my mind are 2 of the Moderators from the General Trip Planning Board. Their replies were in great length and detail and heeded enthusiastically. Thank you again, Candie and Wilderness, and all others.

Next, and I may be out of chronological order, (this is long, whew) I needed to secure 2 Illuminations Celebration Cruises, one to celebrate the main reason for this trip, Marie’s health recovery and the second to celebrate Natalie’s 19th birthday, December 4th. Using the logic that I have since given to quite a number of others looking for advice, I started my calling, (7 at 60, now 7 at 90) to book the cruise early in our trip. I started calling on, I think October 1st at 6 AM, CST for November 30th. No luck. Next day for December 1st—got it, take it to the bank! :D Next day, call for 5:45 PM PS at Tony’s to be in the Magic Kingdom when the doors close because we’re doing MVMCP on December 2nd; got it, book it. :D Now I am also calling each morning at 6 AM trying to get the second cruise. No luck. No luck. Then I reread some of my mounds of materials and see, (certainly not for the first time, but so fixated on Illumination, I forgot others) the Poly Magic Kingdom Fantasy in the Sky cruise from, where else, the Poly. Hey, we are doing the Poly Luau on Natalie’s birthday, why not top her day with a cruise? So on October 5th, I make my, now routine, 6 AM call, but this time to book the Poly Cruise. Got it, book it. :D Hey, I’m cool. Got two cruises :D And I’m a first timer. But only with the huge support of you folks, the DIS Community, through the knowledge and support you gave. That is all I am going to go into on ressies and PS’s and stuff for I fear boredom will, if not already, settle in. Bet that makes you feel good, huh? I can’t believe I am doing all this! Confusion emanates.

I put all our plans on an Excel spreadsheet from an idea that I saw on a post from DIS’er Ashley, who ironically, I met in December at the DIS meet. Again, a small world. It worked great, what with the constant changes I made throughout the planning weeks, (remember, CC?) This spread sheet really became part of me for about a 60 day period of time. It was I! It had a life!!

DIVERSION ALERT! One of my MANY purchases that I made for the trip was an unbelievably small recorder to take notes for my trip reports. I want to describe it here since this is a Trip Report and I know many of you have and will use a recorder to take notes for yours. This one is made by the excellent recorder company, ”Olympus”. It is 4 ½” x 1 ½” x ½” and weighs 1.6 oz. It holds 90 minutes of notes in 3 “folders”, date and time stamped, LCD screen, and has an alarm. It is a most unbelievable instrument—so small, so light, high capacity, very easy to use, clear sound—I would recommend to anyone. I purchased mine at Sam’s Club for $89. Now, here is the best part on the recorder thing. I have to tell you now, not a month from now when I get to my next report. Listen up! I was planning on either making notes as we went along each day, or, at a minimum, tell my story on the balcony, overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon each night, (sounds neat, huh; kind of like a commercial for WDW, LOL). Yeh, sure. We were so busy during the day and evenings, I had no time for that. And at night, when we returned to the Poly, I was in no condition to recap our day. Know what all went into my space-age recorder? <font color=red>Our parking spot at the Y&BC parking lot</font color> on our first full day at WDW, where we parked our minivan to take the boat to MGM Studios. I took it out, (this is the first thing we are doing, after breakfast at the Kona Café, on our first full day on our first ever WDW trip) everybody said, “You’re weird, Dad.” I replied, "No, really, they all told me on that DIS thing I have been doing that you really need to somehow remember your parking place, because the lot will fill up with all white minivans and Luminas and we will never find our van” Well, we did find our van, but that was the only utterance ever made into that magic machine the whole time we were there. I feel this is so good of a product, I am linking to a picture file in my DIS web site if you wish to see it.Recorder


ALERT OVER I ordered all new Samsonite luggage for all from E-bags. We were in go mode, defcom 4!! :D

Somehow, I was able to locate, with many stops in different Hallmark Card Shops, 9 different, Disney themed, (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc.)(actually I got more for other times on the trip) During the final two weeks prior to our trip, I sent one card, on three separate and spaced days, to each Marie, Natalie, and Vince. A total of 3 each about every 4 or 5 days. The cards were “signed” by the respective character and they said “We miss you”, “I love you”, “Congratulations”, etc. When the first ones came, all said, “Dad is really losing it with this Disney thing!” As more came every several days, we were all smiling, me the most. It was kind of fun for me, figuring who would get which one, trying to match the character and wording with the right family member, signing them, sending them, and then a day or two later, having them arrive home and hear what the family had to say.

Now let me say at this point, as we are getting ready to depart in a short period of time, my DF had not a clue as to what the detailed plans were (parks, PS’s, cruises, surprises) other than we were going to Disney World and we were staying at the Poly. The “plans announcement” would actually occur after we arrived. The day to depart had come. Our plan was to drive to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon, November 28, have a first class dinner near the airport, stay overnight at The Clarion Suites, located across the street from the airport, get up early, and get our 7:35 AM flight to Orlando, (can’t believe I just said that). We loaded up the car about 4 PM on Sunday, November 28, 1999. There was NO room for even one extra bag. None!! We were all loaded up, we all laughed. That was a good sign!

We arrived in Milwaukee about 1 ½ hours later, checked into a 2 bedroom suite at the Clarion and all kind of said, “Hey, we REALLY are going to Disney World, aren’t we?” :D After about an hour of “sitting” time at the hotel, we left to go have dinner at a really first class restaurant, The Packing House, located right near the airport. Well. I knew everything was going to work out because everybody thought the hotel was great and all thought the restaurant one of the best ever, (it was). Marie said she would travel from Chicago to Milwaukee just for The Packing House. Hey, I picked some good ones. LOL

Well, it was back to the Clarion for the night. I was so pumped with adrenalin that it was not a restful night for me. Twice during the night, I awoke, (normally once ) and I found myself going into the living room and reviewing “stuff”—maps, spreadsheet, car rental info, anything to fidget with while my DF was fast asleep, dreaming a Dream. I finally went back to bed, to join my family in dreaming MY Dream.

We are up about 5:30 AM, get ready to leave and have the hotel van drive us to the airport. The driver looked at all our bags, 10, (only 4 of us) and asked if we were going for an extended trip. The 5 minute trip to the airport was uneventful, another good sign. We checked all our bags and the first, and as I am quickly reviewing in my mind—(remember no notes on my high tech recorder, LOL), maybe only glitch of our trip occurred. The plane is loading fine, and just as we are getting ready to be the next to board, the lady says,” Everybody wait just a minute.” Well, it turns out they had the wrong plane or something. They unload and reload another and the delay was only maybe 30 minute total. Not bad.

Well, here we are--the four of us--Marie, Natalie, Vince, and I, buckled into our four across first-class like, all leather, oversized seats. A first-class champagne breakfast awaits us at 35,000 feet and the Mouse awaits us at Walt Disney World. Who would have thought back in January of 1998, when Marie was first diagnosed with breast cancer, that we would be sitting on the runway, getting ready for the takeoff roll, a takeoff that would deliver my family and me to the <font color=blue>Happiest Place on Earth and a Dream</font color>.

Below is a picture of Natalie and Vince as we are winging our way to the Happiest Place on Earth


Well, that takes us up through the full planning saga of the Murphy family's Dream trip to Walt Disney World. We will again meet, soon, to continue. Thank you for listening.
...................................

[pumba]

over again......really enjoyed it.....

The other Marie

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Thank you so much for reposting these! I have loved reading them and I feel like I have lived through this with your family. :D

[DISchick]

Oh, Dan! These are so wonderful! I missed them the first time around, so I am really glad you are posting them again. We are 16 days away from an 11 day stay at the Boardwalk. This is a great way to get me even more excited, if that's possible!
I'm so glad your family got excited and that Marie was able to make the trip.
More please.................

[CapeCod53]

Just found DIS a few months ago & love the trip reports. So glad you are reposting yours. Wonderful reports even though I was having trouble seeing clearly by the 3rd part, the tears were falling. Please post about your actual trip soon.

[Brisully]

Dan, these are great. I love reading your early metamorphisis into an "adult" DIS'er!!!

[Robin1116]

Thank-you once again for posting these trip reports Dan!

I am glad you finally found your laughing place!

[antnee]

we were in DW around the same time and missed each other :P glad the family had fun. Our obseesion had begun on our Honeymoon in December of 1999(the 4th)

Maybe we will meet someday, thanks for posting Dan :D

[Patio]

Thanks again Dan for putting a smile on many faces.

[jennymouse]

You are such a wonderful hubby, Dan....tell me, do you have a single brother.:D

Off to read the next!


I'm back! No birth! Where's the birth? Ya gotta have the birth!

Enjoyed!

[LindaBabe]

first time - I really HOPE we get to the baby this time, Dan! (I'm a person that doesn't like unfinished stories, unfinished symphonies, etc. ) Please? pretty please, won't you birth this baby?!

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Since I'm new here, I'm so glad your trip reports got bumped up. They are wonderful (and you haven't even gotten to WDW yet!). Thank you for sharing!

[luvmy2sams]

Thanks again for posting these, Dan. By the way, your daughter and I have the same birthday.:D

[nativetxn]

It was great reading this again, Dan. Thanks for posting.

[shamrock]

Can't WAIT to read the rest ... you all are actually ON YOUR WAY :D. Bet those nice roomy seats made the trip so pleasant. Great way to start your trip!