17 Days of Wishes Come to Life- A Sept. 08 WDW and DCL Adventure 3/27 new link posted

[disneydusted]

I LOVE THIS!!!! The ribbon under the door, presents on the bed, the mystery invitation... all of your planning for the dream day is starting to appear!!! I am so happy for you! It seems so crazy that I am sitting here with a big grin on my face reading about it coming together but I am! You would think I was there with you!! Must be the Disney magic coming thru your report! I can't wait to hear more!! YA FOR JAY and all of her hard work planning!!

 

[busymomma123]

Where do you find the ponchos 2 for a $1? We had the reusable kind last year, but needless to say they didn't survive getting washed. The throwaway kind would be a lot better. It rained almost everyday last year off and on. So it was a real pain to put them back and get them out again all the time.

Your TR is so awesome. Its funny because my DH said the other day he wished we could spend more time in the World Showcase. I had no idea there was that much to do there. Thanks for sharing your trip. It's not only fun to read, but very educational as well.

 

[jaycns]

Hi, I followed you from Nichole's TR (kaysmommie) I'm way too tired to read tonight but I want to subscribe to catch up in the next couple of days. So I'm joining in a little late to the party!!!

Shawna

WELCOME!! It's good to have you. I hope you stick around once you have time to catch up. Doesn't she write great trip reports? Her two litle ones are so cute!

What a great way to be surprised! You must never sleep, Jay, dreaming up all these wonderful things for your boys.!

Ha ha ha, I sleep alright, just not as much as I would like. But that has very little to do with WDW (although the week or so before a trip it does ). I didn't do much for the surprises you saw on the bed. Basically all I did was call and request an Indiana Jones surprise and gave them a spending limit. The rest was all IPO planning/shopping and on site staff for the great placement. I am very thankful for the way it turned out!!

I LOVE THIS!!!! The ribbon under the door, presents on the bed, the mystery invitation... all of your planning for the dream day is starting to appear!!! I am so happy for you! It seems so crazy that I am sitting here with a big grin on my face reading about it coming together but I am! You would think I was there with you!! Must be the Disney magic coming thru your report! I can't wait to hear more!! YA FOR JAY and all of her hard work planning!!

HA HA HA. I am sitting here grinning thinking about being able to share our wonderful surprises with everyone. It truly was amazing! I am excited to almost be to the point where I can start to share my dream come true with you all!

Where do you find the ponchos 2 for a $1? We had the reusable kind last year, but needless to say they didn't survive getting washed. The throwaway kind would be a lot better. It rained almost everyday last year off and on. So it was a real pain to put them back and get them out again all the time.

Your TR is so awesome. Its funny because my DH said the other day he wished we could spend more time in the World Showcase. I had no idea there was that much to do there. Thanks for sharing your trip. It's not only fun to read, but very educational as well.

The ponchos are at Walmart in the camping section. They are disposable ponchos. They are priced at .79 but I found them in the clearence section for 2 for $1 and snapped all of them up. We will be set on ponchos for years to come. However, even at the .79 price they are a great deal. I know that the dollar store also has ponchos (although it's a little bit more since they are a dollar ). Walmart also has more expensive ones in their camping section (a few bucks each) that look like much better quality...but I am more interested in being able to pass them on to another person in the park or throw them out when I am done rather then figuring out how to store an armful of wet ponchos. I love being able to toss out those dripping masses of plastic rathter then having to fold them up and store them without soaking everything else. We do have a few WDW ponchos that I wouldn't throw away (we were given them by the AKL concierge last year) but I didn't even bring those back to WDW. We use them here at home where it's much easier to dry them out without the hassle of dragging them wet with us for the rest of the day.

And thanks for saying that about my trip report. I am glad to know someone is being helped (even in the smallest way) by it!

 

[xoktenox]

That was an AMAZING surprise for your boys! I'm so impressed with how the IPO did that for you And you always keep the suspense building...I want to know what the surprise at the GF is!

 

[jaycns]

Day 4...food and fun come to us!

Hungry and ready to eat we dialed down to in-room dining and ordered up a storm. With the deluxe dining plan we had WAY to much food due to us to ever be able to eat it all...but we were sure going to try!

Dh ordered the fried chicken wings with a sweet chili glaze and tortilla strip side for his appetizer. Both he and Goofy (our two wings lovers) thought they were very tasty.

Dh ordered BBQ ribs with mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots and BBQ baked beans for his main course. He said it was all VERY good!

His meal came with a side of corn bread! Just look at how much they sent up! We all shared it and still had leftovers.

For dessert dh ordered chocolate ice cream and we ended up getting an entire pint of Hagan Daas! Needless to say, lots of sharing did go on!

Aladdin chose to start his meal off with nachos. OH MY GOODNESS!!! There was enough for all of us to eat off of for the next two days (and we did keep the left over chips and munch on them for a few days).

For his main course we chose to let him take his brother's choice once the food came. We ordered his brother's meal as his because we had to have an adult meal and then a child's meal on the dining plan. But what Aladdin ended up eating was the kid's hamburger and fries meal as his main course. For a kids meal, it was HUGE. He was stuffed when he finished it.

For his dessert he ordered vanilla ice cream. Once again, an entire pint of Hagan Daas showed up! Lots more sharing went on with that. Ha ha ha.

Goofy started his meal off with an assortment of fresh fruit. He and Stitch both started their meals off that way actually. For his main course, he was the brother who traded his kid's meal off for Aladdin's adult menu pick and he ended up with VERY VERY VERY good grilled salmon, rice pilaf and green beans. He was thrilled with his choice and ate every single bite of the salmon (at least all but the two bites that I 'borrowed' ). The younger two boys each got a cup of applesauce with their meals as well. We just threw those in the mini frig for snack time later on in the week.

Which leads me to Stitch, he had the kid's grilled cheese meal with french fries. He enjoyed it a whole lot along with the fresh fruit bowl.

Goofy and Stitch chose to picnic out on our balcony. And they had a little green visitor who joined them for their meal (although he declined any food himself. ).

In this next picture you can see the gigantic pile of food that was our meal (still in their room service coverings) in the background.

As for me and my meal...I was sort of boring this night. BUT my boring meal was still fantastic and one of my favorites of the trip!

I started off with a simple mixed green salad with ranch dressing on the side.
For some reason, that salad was very good and it really hit the spot.

I chose to have a mushroom and swiss burger (I asked if they could add the grilled mushrooms to the regular cheeseburger they offered and it was no problem...goes to show, it pays to ask ). My burger and fries were OH SO GOOD!

For some reason, I didn't take a picture of my dessert which was caramel apple pie. OH SO GOOD!!! One of my favorite sweet treats! I have a picture of it later in the trip I think, I will make sure to post it so that you all can see the gooey goodness which is known as the Wilderness Lodge's Caramel Apple Pie!

We came up with a good way to keep our left over ice cream cold. It wasn't cold enough in the mini frig to stay frozen and leaving it in the ice bucket that it came in wouldn't work because the ice would melt too quickly to make it workable. SO...we just put the full ice bucket with the ice packed in around the ice cream container into the mini frig and turned it down to it's coldest setting. Although we had to replace the ice daily, it worked perfectly!

Here is another cute towel animal that we got that was sitting on the tv stand when we returned from EPCOT. She was one of my favorite towel animals of the week. I loved her 'real' hair curls.

As we ate, the EWP started and we all made our way to the balcony (joining the two who were already dining out there) and linked our arms around each other and stood watching the magic and smiling at each other. It was a great family moment. It's one of those memories that I made sure to commit to my "lifetime memory book". I actually keep one of those. Yes, I am strange. But when moments (spectacular or even just every day moments that "hit me" ) occur I try to make sure I write them down in my notebook. I have done this ever since high school and every year on New Year's day I pull out my notebooks (I have two spiral notebooks full so far) and page through them. Back to the point of all of this...it was just a really special moment. We were all so relaxed and happy and totally and completely content. We were on vacation together. We had a huge surprise coming the next day (only dh and I knew about it), we had had TONS of fun already and had barely even started our vacation and best of all...we had done it all or could look forward to doing more together as a family of six. For me, for no reason at all, it was just one of life's sweetest moments. And watching the electrical light pageant float by, the scenery wasn't too bad either.

When the EWP ended we finished up our meals, got ready for bed and curled up together watching the Disney Channel. That night it was almost impossible for me to fall asleep because I was so excited. The day I had planned, replanned, planned again and then planned some more was just a sleep away. And I knew that the next day would bring me a chance to live my dreams (and watch my boys doing the same).

Just what is it that tomrrow would bring?! Well, that is a tale for another installment.

Coming up, our day of living dreams.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

All that room service foods looks sooo good!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Jay, I am stuffed just looking at all that food.
What a nice relaxed meal, and a perfect ending to your day.
I can just picture you all standing, arms around each other, watching the EWP. It's so sweet and touching that it gives me gooseflesh.

I can't wait to know what the surprise was

 

[John's Mom]

Can't wait for your next installment!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yay The big day is almost here! I can't wait to hear how all your plans came together! I love the surprise gifts and the invitation that was left in your room - how clever! Don't you have friends joining you for this surprise? Did you have the same invitation sent to them? Nevermind, I'm sure you'll get to that - I'm just being impatient!

Ok, Jay, hurry up, I need the next day posted ASAP! I'm so excited and it's not even my surprise!

 

[Illini4ever]

Yay!!! The "big" day is finally coming! I seriously cannot wait to read all about it.

Your evening sounded wonderful......ordering room service and relaxing in the room watching the parade. What a wonderful way to spend the night as a family.

 

[Figment's Friend]

What a great surprise, Jay! I can just imagine the boys excited smiles when they saw all the Indiana Jones stuff! (I cannot wait to hear how all the surprises at Grand Floridian pan out!)

Room service sounds fun DH's ribs look delicious. I think it's very nice you have a memory notebook and take it out every New Year

 

[busymomma123]

Your towel animals were so cool. What a great surprise for the boys to come home to all those cool toys. I LOVE the idea of the lifetime memory book. Your special moment brought a tear to my eye. What a great memory for your family.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Jay I was waiting for this moment in your trip. I can not wait to see what the next day brings. I remember all the planning and I was really excited with your choices for your special day. You are one great mama. I love it so far. I am sitting on the edge of my seat reading this trippee....

 

[brookelizabeth]

We really enjoy it too! I don't think they would have a problem with mom or dad helping little Henry to make something. Just stop by the kidcot fun stop in the tin toy musuem. On the right hand side, you will see the origami and robots displayed. HTH

Yes, it does help! Thank you!

That is SO CUTE! I love how the WL IPO set all this up! How creative and what a treat for the boys.

A "side" of cornbread! That reminds me of the "side" of bacon we ordered with our breakfast at AKL. I think it was the entire pound of bacon. Can't complain about those kind of sides, can ya?!

All the food sounds very yummy! I look forward to the pie pic-maybe, just maybe, I'll have to order some to our room in just a few days...!

I'm so excited to read about your big surprise coming up and hearing how all the details came together!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh, random question for you too....with the Pack & Play, do they provide the sheets and blankie? Or did you bring your own?

I plan to bring our own, just so Henry has them from home (familar), but in case I forget, or if they get dirty or something, I'm wondering if WL provides these?

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cliffhanger!
You have me really interested now... WHAT is the surprise. What? What???? The CM's do seem to go above and beyond which is just so magical. The food looks absolutely delectable. Mmmm... Your family time watching the pageant seems absolutely heavenly. The lifetime memory book actually sounds like a really good idea. I think I might actually start one. I cannot wait until we find out what your special surprise is soon.
Hope the LP is doing ok--and all the rest of the clan.

 

[29apr00]

Yummy room service meal!! I can't believe they sent up PINTS of Haggen Daz!! Yummy!!

The IJ stuff is so great, i can't wait for the next suprise!!

HURRY UP!!!

 

[kaysmommie]

Great update Jay,
I love the surprise you had IPO set up on the room. Kids love it when they get surprises in the room, don't they! Looks like a great relaxing night at WL. I have booked there for next fall. We haven't stayed at WL since Kaylee was 3 so it should be fun to go back there again. I can't wait to see the surprise at GF .

 

[momoftriplets]

ENTIRE PINTS OF ICE CREAM???? Are you kidding? Holy Cow! That was a lot of food. From room service, even. WOW!

Can you tell you have a lot of people waiting - not so patiently - for your big reveal? We have been in on this with you from the start. Now it's here!

Can. Not. Wait.

HURRY!!!

 

[bawsmom]

wonderful room service good food... and so relaxing...

can't wait for the big surprise!!