bulah1
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Messages
- 243
Hello All!
I have decided that after 10 years of being with my lovedest one, and never going anywhere further than one state over for a weekend trip - we need a real vacation!! LOL
I have been with my fiance for 10 years (nearly the end of our senior year of high school) - however, we've been friends since the 2nd grade. For some reason something just "clicked" that final year of school and he found out my interest in him and got the nerve up to ask me out. It was the best thing he could have ever done !
We've been through quite a lot together, and are still driven towards making it work to achieve our dreams together. He is a musician and I am a director. (Though, when we started dating, I was an actress! Now I've moved move behind the scenes.) It's been an amazing life, but as many may know - it's called "struggling artist" for a reason! We still can not afford a wedding like we want and similarly, we have never financially had the means to take a vacation together. I finally came to the realization that it is now 10 years... it is TIME!! I will find a way.
And the way came for me to come into enough money totally unexpectedly, that I decided to take us on a trip. And since there are only two places we want to go - Disney and Europe... it was an easy decision... Being that Disney is only a fraction of the cost and we'll be able to spend more time there without going TOTALLY broke!
I'm doing this as a multi-celebration for both his birthday and our anniversary. I will present it to him on his birthday August 29, though the trip won't be until Halloween week this year. I can not contain it - but I know I must!!
It is driving me nuts! LOL - so much I want to consult with him about!!
This is us - taken in fall last year -
Halloween is our absolute favorite time of the year - well above Christmas or anything else - hands down. And when we do get married Halloween will be a very strong factor in what we do (not cheesy, but with the flavor of Halloween and dramatic). So it was very easy to pick for me WHEN our trip needed to happen. Plus it's a bonus the weather will be not too terrible there at that time, crowds should be a little lighter, and we get to spend our favorite time together enjoying the festivities as we always dream of.
Since we don't have kids, we don't dress up anymore for Halloween and it absolutely KILLS us to not do anything. So we find other things to do to celebrate the time. But this hopefully will take the cake!
I have been to DW a few times in my life - first time being with my family when I was 4. I remember absolutely nothing about this trip except a few tiny things: FIGMENT!!! The Tiki Room (I sang the song for hours), Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit (I also sang this for many hours), the crazy fountains at Epcot that attacked my forehead as I peered down into a hole and received an unexpected wet frontside, and a few other small details here and there.
(Me and my sisters at Epcot)
Since that time I went back twice in Freshman year with my best friend, but so much has changed, heck - there's even another park since I went!!
My FH hasn't been there since his childhood in 85. So I can't wait to share this with him, we've talked about doing it for sooooo very long!
So 10 years... the time has come for a real vacation!!
I will present him with all of this in a special format on his birthday - written invitations and such to peruse over detailing the special trip.
Here's what I have planned sofar:
DAY 1 - October 28
Leave Chicago on 8 am flight from O-Hare. Looks like this puts us there around noon Orlando time. Disney Magical Express to our hotel. I chose the All Star Music Resort for the duration of our stay (#1 because of the price range... I wish I could afford a deluxe or even moderate, but just can't float it right now - and #2 because I wanted it to be special and geared towards HIM for his birthday so I picked MUSIC for my musician boy!!). Hopefully we can get in to the parks at a decent time after arriving. I thought we could do MK our first day there. I'm keeping high hopes that there will be smaller crowds and we might be able to get a lot done. I made ADR at Tony's in the MK at 5:15. This I'm absolutely excited about!!! On our very first date we had Italian (all be it Olive Garden Italian, but I still loved it!!) and watched Lady and the Tramp at his house afterwards. So when I found out the very RESTAURANT from the movie was in the place, how could I resist? Then I find out the singers could possibly be there too, and if that is the case, I would love for them to come by our table to sing us the song. I swear I'll cry, but hey - that's what this is about!! But with dinner at 5:15 - that gives us plenty of time to get our butts back for the opening of MNSSHP!!! I do plan to dress up, but as of yet I only have ideas floating around. This is also killing me because I want to ask FH so badly what he wants to be, but he doesn't even know this is happening yet!! LOL. So as soon as he knows - the ideas will be flying!! I've gotten so excited reading the boards here about what goes on at the parties - so much that I booked us for a second night party as well (but more on that later). We plan to take advantage of the party and the opportunity to get on certain rides (Haunted Mansion was always one of the memories that stuck with me from my very first trip - I loved it SO much!!) We will be there until the minute they close!! LOL
DAY 2 - October 29
EPCOT!!! I totally can't wait to go back and see Figment again!
He was such a fond memory of mine!! My parents had bought me a stuffed Figment in 84, and the entire drive back to Chicago I was holding him up to the passers-by in vehicles making him do little puppet tricks. By the time we got home his stuffing had lost all firmness in his neck and subsequently his head ended up laying on his belly! LOL. It just sort of flopped there. I used to sleep with him every single night gripping him tightly! I don't think I even stopped sleeping with him into Junior High, I swear! LOL. In any case, I look forward to "journeying" back into the Imagination and sharing it with Rick. 
And now that we have discovered both of our desires to travel the world, it is like it will be at our disposal right there with the world showcase! That is probably what I'm looking forward to most besides the parties at MK. Not sure what to do for lunch yet, but I had made ADR for 6 pm at the San Angel Inn because I do remember the ambience from my previous trips. But now looking at the menu I'm not sure if FH will like the food assortment. We are both huge Mexican fans, but I guess I'm a big burrito / enchilada fan... which is certainly NOT what they have there. Hmm... so I need to make a decision about this - something we will be covering when he finally knows. I printed up the menu options so he can decide. I have been pondering the Marakesh (sp?) in Morocco as a possibility though. I am a belly dancer and I also see they have a lute player there which he would love. The chicken dishes seem right up our alley, so I'm thinking I might swap our dinner ressies for that and maybe do Mexi for lunch at the other restaurant (seeing that they have more burrito type yummies). What do you guys think? Do you have any other suggestions that might be romantic and fun? I've been toying with the English restaurant too because we are going to England above all other locations when we can finally make it to the real Europe.. it is our dream to be married there (or Scotland). So it would mean a lot to us to do that. Too many choices!! 
DAY 3 - October 30
So unfortunately this is our last day at the parks of Disney... which is sad. And also a cram day apparently!! We have to somehow fit the remaining AK and MGM parks into this one day AND I also scheduled the "Spirit of Aloha" dinner show at 5:15 for us, and the second MNSSHP that evening. Now since we'll have already been to a party, it won't kill us to not make the enitre thing if we can't. It just sounded so special from the forums - I got the tickets, if we don't make it - we don't make it, but I'd love to try. So how the heck do I fit that all in one day??? LOL. I am wondering if we might have time during our Epcot day, we might be able to "hop" over to one of the other parks and try to get some stuff in. I'd really like to see Fantasmic which we can't make on this night since it runs into the luau time-wise. So perhaps we might do that on our Epcot night. Maybe fit in some rides or something too when we're there. As far as Animal Kingdom goes though, it's new to both of us - so I don't want to just slip right through. Plus we are both avid animal freaks and would keep every animal on the planet if we could! LOL
And we've got to make it on the SAFARI!!! And of course the roller coaster with a big 'ol yeti coming after you... can't miss THAT!! 
And at MGM there's just so much to do. I guess we'll be making it to one of the parks as early as it opens in order to fit as much in as we can. Also MGM has a couple shows we need to see. Like I said Fantasmic I totally want to see, never have seen it yet. And FH has never even been to MGM at all. I'd really like to see Flights of Wonder at AK if time permits, because I love hawks and owls. Hopefully... cross my fingers. And the luau should be fun. It's kind of a bittersweet thing to me. I went with my Best Friend in the early 90's and was chosen to go on stage to do the hula. So much fun. And I totally must have blocked the whole "show" aspect of the dinner, because I only remember the dancing and fire twirling stuff. But after my mother died in 2005 we were going through old photos of her through life. There was one taken of her when she was in her early 20's in the same kind of luau on stage at some place in Chicago (no longer there of course... 
but she was standing in the EXACT same spot that I was standing in my luau and we have pictures of both to compare!!) - If I get a chance I'll try to post both. It makes me cry. But all in all, it was still a fun time there, and I can't wait to share it with FH!! Maybe I'll get to go up there again. And the food looked pretty good from what the menu showed. Then right after that, we'll be hopping back over to MK for our second MNSSHP!! And no doubt there 'til closing time again! 
DAY 4 - October 31
OK, don't get mad... still staying at Disney - BUT we'll be taking some sort of transport, be it cab or shuttle of some sorts (checking into what MEARS is offering) over to Universal Studios and IOA. Neither of us have ever been to those so it is gonna be a bast!! I honestly don't know much about it, but I can't wait!! We did get the extra tickets to "Stay and Scream" for their Halloween party as well. I guess no dressing up for this one though, a little sad. But I thought the scarier party for Halloween night would be up our alley, since we are big scare freaks. I like spooky and this might do the trick. If only Harry Potter were gonna be open... I wanna visit Hogwarts!! LOL
DAY 5 - November 1
Sad to say, it's time to say "goodbye"... I think I might cry. We'll check out of the ASMU around 11 or so I think... maybe a bit earlier. I believe our flight home is at 1. I don't think I'll wanna go home.
Anyways, I'll keep you all posted as stuff happens. I'll try to post some more pics of past trips here as well. I would also love to hear any feedback or opinions on my scheduling - suggestions. And suggestions for costumes and stuff for the party!!
Stay posted for more!!! And send some comments my way!!
Cheers!
Erica
I have decided that after 10 years of being with my lovedest one, and never going anywhere further than one state over for a weekend trip - we need a real vacation!! LOL
I have been with my fiance for 10 years (nearly the end of our senior year of high school) - however, we've been friends since the 2nd grade. For some reason something just "clicked" that final year of school and he found out my interest in him and got the nerve up to ask me out. It was the best thing he could have ever done !
We've been through quite a lot together, and are still driven towards making it work to achieve our dreams together. He is a musician and I am a director. (Though, when we started dating, I was an actress! Now I've moved move behind the scenes.) It's been an amazing life, but as many may know - it's called "struggling artist" for a reason! We still can not afford a wedding like we want and similarly, we have never financially had the means to take a vacation together. I finally came to the realization that it is now 10 years... it is TIME!! I will find a way.
And the way came for me to come into enough money totally unexpectedly, that I decided to take us on a trip. And since there are only two places we want to go - Disney and Europe... it was an easy decision... Being that Disney is only a fraction of the cost and we'll be able to spend more time there without going TOTALLY broke!
I'm doing this as a multi-celebration for both his birthday and our anniversary. I will present it to him on his birthday August 29, though the trip won't be until Halloween week this year. I can not contain it - but I know I must!!
It is driving me nuts! LOL - so much I want to consult with him about!!This is us - taken in fall last year -
Halloween is our absolute favorite time of the year - well above Christmas or anything else - hands down. And when we do get married Halloween will be a very strong factor in what we do (not cheesy, but with the flavor of Halloween and dramatic). So it was very easy to pick for me WHEN our trip needed to happen. Plus it's a bonus the weather will be not too terrible there at that time, crowds should be a little lighter, and we get to spend our favorite time together enjoying the festivities as we always dream of.
Since we don't have kids, we don't dress up anymore for Halloween and it absolutely KILLS us to not do anything. So we find other things to do to celebrate the time. But this hopefully will take the cake!
I have been to DW a few times in my life - first time being with my family when I was 4. I remember absolutely nothing about this trip except a few tiny things: FIGMENT!!! The Tiki Room (I sang the song for hours), Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit (I also sang this for many hours), the crazy fountains at Epcot that attacked my forehead as I peered down into a hole and received an unexpected wet frontside, and a few other small details here and there.
(Me and my sisters at Epcot)
Since that time I went back twice in Freshman year with my best friend, but so much has changed, heck - there's even another park since I went!!
My FH hasn't been there since his childhood in 85. So I can't wait to share this with him, we've talked about doing it for sooooo very long!
So 10 years... the time has come for a real vacation!!
I will present him with all of this in a special format on his birthday - written invitations and such to peruse over detailing the special trip.
Here's what I have planned sofar:
DAY 1 - October 28
Leave Chicago on 8 am flight from O-Hare. Looks like this puts us there around noon Orlando time. Disney Magical Express to our hotel. I chose the All Star Music Resort for the duration of our stay (#1 because of the price range... I wish I could afford a deluxe or even moderate, but just can't float it right now - and #2 because I wanted it to be special and geared towards HIM for his birthday so I picked MUSIC for my musician boy!!). Hopefully we can get in to the parks at a decent time after arriving. I thought we could do MK our first day there. I'm keeping high hopes that there will be smaller crowds and we might be able to get a lot done. I made ADR at Tony's in the MK at 5:15. This I'm absolutely excited about!!! On our very first date we had Italian (all be it Olive Garden Italian, but I still loved it!!) and watched Lady and the Tramp at his house afterwards. So when I found out the very RESTAURANT from the movie was in the place, how could I resist? Then I find out the singers could possibly be there too, and if that is the case, I would love for them to come by our table to sing us the song. I swear I'll cry, but hey - that's what this is about!! But with dinner at 5:15 - that gives us plenty of time to get our butts back for the opening of MNSSHP!!! I do plan to dress up, but as of yet I only have ideas floating around. This is also killing me because I want to ask FH so badly what he wants to be, but he doesn't even know this is happening yet!! LOL. So as soon as he knows - the ideas will be flying!! I've gotten so excited reading the boards here about what goes on at the parties - so much that I booked us for a second night party as well (but more on that later). We plan to take advantage of the party and the opportunity to get on certain rides (Haunted Mansion was always one of the memories that stuck with me from my very first trip - I loved it SO much!!) We will be there until the minute they close!! LOL
DAY 2 - October 29
EPCOT!!! I totally can't wait to go back and see Figment again!
He was such a fond memory of mine!! My parents had bought me a stuffed Figment in 84, and the entire drive back to Chicago I was holding him up to the passers-by in vehicles making him do little puppet tricks. By the time we got home his stuffing had lost all firmness in his neck and subsequently his head ended up laying on his belly! LOL. It just sort of flopped there. I used to sleep with him every single night gripping him tightly! I don't think I even stopped sleeping with him into Junior High, I swear! LOL. In any case, I look forward to "journeying" back into the Imagination and sharing it with Rick. And now that we have discovered both of our desires to travel the world, it is like it will be at our disposal right there with the world showcase! That is probably what I'm looking forward to most besides the parties at MK. Not sure what to do for lunch yet, but I had made ADR for 6 pm at the San Angel Inn because I do remember the ambience from my previous trips. But now looking at the menu I'm not sure if FH will like the food assortment. We are both huge Mexican fans, but I guess I'm a big burrito / enchilada fan... which is certainly NOT what they have there. Hmm... so I need to make a decision about this - something we will be covering when he finally knows. I printed up the menu options so he can decide. I have been pondering the Marakesh (sp?) in Morocco as a possibility though. I am a belly dancer and I also see they have a lute player there which he would love. The chicken dishes seem right up our alley, so I'm thinking I might swap our dinner ressies for that and maybe do Mexi for lunch at the other restaurant (seeing that they have more burrito type yummies). What do you guys think? Do you have any other suggestions that might be romantic and fun? I've been toying with the English restaurant too because we are going to England above all other locations when we can finally make it to the real Europe.. it is our dream to be married there (or Scotland). So it would mean a lot to us to do that. Too many choices!! DAY 3 - October 30
So unfortunately this is our last day at the parks of Disney... which is sad. And also a cram day apparently!! We have to somehow fit the remaining AK and MGM parks into this one day AND I also scheduled the "Spirit of Aloha" dinner show at 5:15 for us, and the second MNSSHP that evening. Now since we'll have already been to a party, it won't kill us to not make the enitre thing if we can't. It just sounded so special from the forums - I got the tickets, if we don't make it - we don't make it, but I'd love to try. So how the heck do I fit that all in one day??? LOL. I am wondering if we might have time during our Epcot day, we might be able to "hop" over to one of the other parks and try to get some stuff in. I'd really like to see Fantasmic which we can't make on this night since it runs into the luau time-wise. So perhaps we might do that on our Epcot night. Maybe fit in some rides or something too when we're there. As far as Animal Kingdom goes though, it's new to both of us - so I don't want to just slip right through. Plus we are both avid animal freaks and would keep every animal on the planet if we could! LOL
And we've got to make it on the SAFARI!!! And of course the roller coaster with a big 'ol yeti coming after you... can't miss THAT!! And at MGM there's just so much to do. I guess we'll be making it to one of the parks as early as it opens in order to fit as much in as we can. Also MGM has a couple shows we need to see. Like I said Fantasmic I totally want to see, never have seen it yet. And FH has never even been to MGM at all. I'd really like to see Flights of Wonder at AK if time permits, because I love hawks and owls. Hopefully... cross my fingers. And the luau should be fun. It's kind of a bittersweet thing to me. I went with my Best Friend in the early 90's and was chosen to go on stage to do the hula. So much fun. And I totally must have blocked the whole "show" aspect of the dinner, because I only remember the dancing and fire twirling stuff. But after my mother died in 2005 we were going through old photos of her through life. There was one taken of her when she was in her early 20's in the same kind of luau on stage at some place in Chicago (no longer there of course... but she was standing in the EXACT same spot that I was standing in my luau and we have pictures of both to compare!!) - If I get a chance I'll try to post both. It makes me cry. But all in all, it was still a fun time there, and I can't wait to share it with FH!! Maybe I'll get to go up there again. And the food looked pretty good from what the menu showed. Then right after that, we'll be hopping back over to MK for our second MNSSHP!! And no doubt there 'til closing time again! DAY 4 - October 31
OK, don't get mad... still staying at Disney - BUT we'll be taking some sort of transport, be it cab or shuttle of some sorts (checking into what MEARS is offering) over to Universal Studios and IOA. Neither of us have ever been to those so it is gonna be a bast!! I honestly don't know much about it, but I can't wait!! We did get the extra tickets to "Stay and Scream" for their Halloween party as well. I guess no dressing up for this one though, a little sad. But I thought the scarier party for Halloween night would be up our alley, since we are big scare freaks. I like spooky and this might do the trick. If only Harry Potter were gonna be open...
I wanna visit Hogwarts!! LOLDAY 5 - November 1
Sad to say, it's time to say "goodbye"... I think I might cry. We'll check out of the ASMU around 11 or so I think... maybe a bit earlier. I believe our flight home is at 1. I don't think I'll wanna go home.
Anyways, I'll keep you all posted as stuff happens. I'll try to post some more pics of past trips here as well. I would also love to hear any feedback or opinions on my scheduling - suggestions. And suggestions for costumes and stuff for the party!!
Stay posted for more!!! And send some comments my way!! Cheers!
Erica
So unfortunately that's a no for now. Makes me a little sad, because I was reallly hoping I could float it. But oh well. We're good, we can fit in as much as we want into the 3 days we'll have at Disney and 1 at Universal.
We'll also be leaving Orlando earlier too, which kind of bites... 
Small victory I think... YAY!!
30 yr. old DW 
36 yr. old DH
3 yr. old DS
I love your "vintage" WDW pic !!!
That's ok by me. I LOOOOOVE scary scaries!! So does FH, so we're both psyched to get our shot at Universal HHN! Closest thing we have here is Six Flags Fright Fest... which - let's face it - doesn't really deliver, and I'm sure in comparison is insignificant! LOL. We're always looking for the best haunted houses out here, and sofar no one could really get close to what we're looking for. And I've only heard good things about HHN, so YAY! We're getting so close now to leaving! WOOHOO.
I think the dinner at Tony's is such a cute idea! I love how the Italian food and the Lady and the Tramp theme totally work out together.. so adorable 
