ABD 2010: Disers Go West - Let the Fun Begin

[safetymom]

Wow, I just took a look at the rooms. I would have a hard time deciding where I wanted to stay. Cool!

 

[Becx N Gav]

Make sure you check out the men's room in the restaurant. Many years ago my design school took a tour there and we all got to see it....too funny....
A very tacky place indeed!!!

Also make sure you at least drive by Hearst Castle...

Drive safe and have fun. Keep your GPS on or call me if you get lost!!!

You and John are wonderful, kind men and we are so glad we got to meet you and have lunch Monday and breakfast Friday with you. Thank you for inviting my family to the breakfast, we all had such a fun time.

If my bucket of money comes soon (retirement offer) we will be on the podcast cruise for sure. If not then podcast 3.0 looks good!!!

Have fun on you road trip and we hope to see you soon!
denise, jimmy, eleni, brandon, kira and garrett

I did n't know you had castles over there

 

[mommyceratops]

Have a great time Kevin and John!! Enjoy every bit of it!! Sounds amazing!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Have a great time Kevin and John!! Enjoy every bit of it!! Sounds amazing!

Trip of a lifetime!

 

[Dodie]

Phillip and I guessed that you guys would stay at the Madonna Inn if you made it that far. We stayed there about 15 years ago. It's an ICON!

 

[Circusgirl]

I'm sitting on my balcony at the GC having coffee and catching up on email and having a relaxed morning. I miss seeing all my DIS neighbors on their balconies!

I feel extremely lucky to have traveled with all of you and to have shared this amazing experience. To have not only an incredible mind blowing time but to share it with all of you and make wonderful new friends is the gift of a lifetime.

 

[katscradle]

Well the trip has come to an end, and not without some tears being shed!
It can be so sad to say goodbye!
We are just now ready to check out of our room and head for the lobby, and our lift to the airport.
We are now starting to look forward to August!
I have to go talk to you later, John has some amazing pictures to post so he will do that when we get home.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Bill and I made it home safely around midnight (CST) to a still awake four year old who came running into our arms with the biggest grin I have ever seen. It almost put tears in our eyes. We were missed. We are home "trying" to get back into the swing of things. I am on my second load of trip laundry and need to re-stock the pantry. It's as if we never left. However, I personally came back a different person than left ...

This trip was always tagged as a "once in a lifetime trip". It was. Never will the same group of people experience such amazing things for the first time like we have. Pictures cannot do the experience justice. You had to be there to feel the emotion and hear the oohs and aahs. I was asked numerous times what my favorite part of the trip was and that is such an unfair question to ask. It's like asking me which is my favorite child. There wasn't one single experience that came to mind because the whole trip was so amazing. It was one magical experience on top of another. It was surreal.

I still can't believe we ate breakfast in Club 33. We now know what is behind that door! I finally got to see the microphones in the chandeliers. Uncle Walt was sneaky! Also, I will never look at the Fire Station the same way again. I will forever now picture every piece of furniture in that room as I glance up. When we were in Walt's Apartment Bill was so cute. He told me to make sure I sat on Walt's couch. Seeing the backside of Soarin' (one of Bill and my favorite rides) was a neat experience. I admit, I read a few ABD CA trip reports and never was that mentioned. So, it was a nice surprise treat! I had hoped and hoped to see Lucky the Dinosaur and when I caught a glance of Lucky out of the corner of my eye at Imagineering, I let out an inner-cheer. He is amazing. Seeing the DISers race into Mickeys of Glendale was like black Friday. Chaos, shopping and lots of fun!!!!

As expected, the trip went by too quickly. Before I knew it, with a heavy heart we boarded a plane on our way back to Texas. I didn't realize how emotional the trip was for me until the plane gained speed and tears welled up in my eyes. The trip was actually over. The trip we had been anticipating for months, done. California seems like a million miles away from here. But, the amazing memories created with 42 new friends will stay with me forever. Thank you all for letting me share this trip with you. You will all forever hold a special place in my heart as you were there when I truly fell in love with Disney.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

FYI: Obama is flying into LAX today. There are longer than normal lines at security. Arrive early if you plan to fly out today!!!

From the LA Times -
Air Force One is scheduled to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport in the late afternoon Monday ...

Jennifer

 

[DisneyTaylors]

We arrived home late last night and got the traditional 5 hours sleep we had become accustomed to over the last week.

I am having a serious case of the post ABD blues as I did not want the trip to end and I miss all of my DIS friends. I made a comment to Jennifer yesterday at LAX that it was like leaving summer camp and you had to say goodbye to everyone and the experience was coming to an end.

Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome and I cannot even imagine doing this experience without this group of people. We had only met a handful of ABDers face-to-face at DAP but had gotten to know all of you on the boards over the months leading up to the trip and were excited about who we would be sharing this trip with. You have all made it impossible to resist the voice in our heads saying "PCC 2.0...PCC 2.0...".

A big thanks also goes out to the DIS/DU crew that organized this trip and added some extra magic of their own to the experience. It wasn't just the amazing breakast you set up for us at Club 33 or the periodic surprises you graciously offered to the group, it was the fact that we got to share this amazing experience with you all.

The phrase "trip of a lifetime" has been used many times by folks on this trip and I think it so truly fits. Every expectation I had in my head going in were completely blown out of the water. Getting to see where all this magic started and continues to flow from was an amazing part of this journey. Getting to walk in Walt's steps was a real emotional experience for me and it is was something that I will never forget. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, this is an experience that I hope everyone that holds Disney in their heart gets to experience.

I am trying to focus on work today , but it is a losing battle as I continue to refelect on the last week. I look forward to staying connected with my fellow ABDers and hope to see everyone in December on a certain little boat.

- Bill

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I have to laugh. Bill is in the bedroom and I am in the home office on the computer. We both were making posts at the same time. Great minds think alike!

 

[DisneyKevin]

We are sitting in. little restaurant named The Cottage in Carmel By the Sea. There is a great fire in the fireplace.

We have just driven through Big Sur. Awe inspiring, jaw dropping, terrifying, exhilarating..... words escape me. The beauty is staggering, but so is the fear of plunging off a 300 foot cliff to certain death.

The Madonna Inn was cheese fest but fun. We chose our room upon arrival.

I now NEED (not want.... but need). a rock grotto waterfall shower.

Off to Montery and then SF.

If this drive is on your list.....you MUST do it.

 

[jcb]

I'm so glad you got to do the drive. One of my absolute favorite photographs of DW is along that highway so it has a special place for me.

 

[stenogoddess]

I'm glad to hear that Jen and Bill and Katherine and John have all made it home safe and sound, and I'm very jealous of Heather still at GC and Kevin and John still enjoying Cali.

As for myself, I've downloaded all my pictures and there are 1,800 of them! Go me! But we've found out that Jeri's grandmother has passed away this morning, and so I'm frantically washing clothes and getting things situated so that we can leave again to go to Florida for the funeral. I know you all will keep Jeri in your thoughts this week. He is, of course, terribly upset, though we both appreciate that this was a sudden thing and much better than it could have been.

We miss you all so much and miss being on vacation. Re-entry into the real world is always a rough ride, but this really does take the cake. I can't wait to see you all again on 2.0.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

That room and hotel looked so cool! I hope you post a few pics for us to see more.

 

[DisneyTaylors]

I am so sorry to hear of Jeri's grandmother's passing. Tell him his ABD friends are sending some strength his way.

It was great to meet y'all and it looks like the wheels are in motion to make PCC 2.0 a reality for us as well.

- Bill

 

[kab407]

Lauren, I am sadden to hear about Jeri's Grandmother's passing. Please know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Safe travels to FL.

 

[kab407]

I am so sorry to hear of Jeri's grandmother's passing. Tell him his ABD friends are sending some strength his way.

It was great to meet y'all and it looks like the wheels are in motion to make PCC 2.0 a reality for us as well.

- Bill

Knew you would drink the Kool-Aid!

 

[WaltD4Me]

words escape me.

Wow! That's saying something!

I'm moving the PCH drive up higher on my list.

Seeing Carmel is also on my list, I've read about it in so many books. I'm so jealous, but so happy for you guys.

Hoping someone posts a ABD trip report soon! Has anyone started one yet?

 

[Dodie]

We Have arrived after our short layover at MSP and are in the towncar on the way home from the airport. I echo everyone's sentiments across the board, including our condolences to Jeri on your loss.

I will type more tomorrow.