So now moving on with Disney Past! For real this time!
I left off after our Oct 06 trip! I was happily pregnant with DS Ryan who is now 2!
I knew we wanted to return to WDW. I knew I needed to return to WDW!
But I knew it would have to wait what I thought was a reasonable amount of time after Ryans birth to go again!
In the spring of 07 DH, who as you may know sails competitively, was invited to sail in the sunfish world championships. I was so happy for him and he was so excited! But that meant a week away in the middle of August! Ryan was due the beginning of June! A week alone with 3 kids, one of them 2 months old! Hmmm!
I agreed that he should go but on one condition! We get a vacation in March 08 when Ryan would be 9 months old and I thought hed be a little easier to travel with! I didnt mention WDW because I thought DH would say no. DH is the one who said WDW!!! In early planning DH, not me, mentioned staying at a monorail resort because it would easier with a baby!
What had happened to my DH?! Was he a Disney Freak in the making?!
Also in early planning we discovered that MIL, FIL, SIL and her DH all want to go too! So we had a Magical Gathering in the making!
Planning took a back seat for a little while when Ryan was born 5/30/07!
But, I was soon back in the swing of planning again!
We decided to stay at Poly because it was a monorail resort and it seemed to best suit us! But in Sept 07 2008 rates still hadnt come out and I was able to make ADRs!
We had places to eat but no place to stay!
But that soon followed and our booking window for Southwest was also quickly upon us!
Everything was all set! Airline tickets, hotel reservations, ADRs etc! The only thing left to do was wait! Ho hum!
Christmas 08 we went to PA for a few days to visit my parents and when we arrived home we found a letter in our mail for WDW saying all sorts of stuff about how Poly is beautiful and wonderful and well love it blah, blah, blah. Then it said but the volcano pool is going to be closed during your stay!
Within 5 minutes of us walking in the door I had phone calls from both MIL and SIL asking what I thought, as the Disney expert, we should do. The letter did say we could use the beach pool at GF. But really, did we want to have to walk down the beach from Poly to GF to use the pool?! What if we got a room in the Tahiti longhouse or one of longhouse all the way by TTC?! Thats a long walk for a swim! So we decided to try to change resorts.
At first we were going to change to WL because we really, really love WL and it would be cheaper. But then DH suggested GF! My DH! Frugal Fred! He suggested GF!
I called and checked the price and it wasnt too much more then we were going to pay to stay at Poly! I wasnt about to spend other peoples money in such a way so I ran the idea past MIL and SIL and they were all for it!
WOW! Were we really going to stay at GF! Yes, oh yes, we were!!
March came quickly with a new baby in house and we were soon on our way to WDW!!
We made it though Ryans first plane ride with flying colors and were soon on our way to GF!
Upon arrival at GF we got a full dose of Disney Magic! We had been upgraded to concierges! Wooo hoo!!
We had a wonderful trip! Staying in Sugar Loaf Concierges at GF was wonderful! DD turned 7 the second day of our trip, March 9th, and her and I spent the morning together having breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and doing BBB in the castle!
During the trip we ate at Spirit of Aloha, Chef Mickeys (on DD birthday), HDDMR (FILs fav), Hollywood and Vine, CP, and Fultons (on DH birthday!)
DHs birthday is March 14th, which was the last full day of our trip and I had planned on leaving the kiddos with MIL and taking DH on the KTTK tour for his birthday. But both of the boys got sick! Really, really sick! I opted out of KTTK and was luckily able to send FIL in my place! DH and FIL had a great time on KTTK! Johnny and Ryan unfortunately had to be visited by a doctor in the room because they were sooooo sick! Both had 103 fevers! Luckily the concierges were able to give us the name of service that sends doctors to you and we didnt have to take 2 sick kiddos to the walkin place. The doctor was fantastic ! Turns out Ryan had an ear infection and Johnny has bronchitis! The doctor must have dusted them with pixie dust because once they got their first dose of antibiotics, which he gave them before he left, they were well on their way to recovery and wanting out of the room!
During this trip we were also able to take advantage of some of the Magical Gatherings experiences! We did the Wishes Magical Fireworks Cruise on DDs birthday and The Illuminations Dinner and Desert Reception at Epcot! Both were wonderful and we wouldnt hesitate to do them again!
We also did the Pirates and Princess Party! It was a lot of fun! DS got to met Capt Jack in person which was worth the price of admission all by itself and we got to see the phenomenal P&P fireworks! But, P&P kinda feel a little flat in comparison to
MNSSHP! It was fun but we wouldnt go out of our way to do it again if they ever start offering it again. Wed go if they had it during our trip but wouldnt plan a whole trip just for that.
We had a wonderful trip despite the illness and truly had lots of Disney magic sprinkled upon us!!
Now for the photo tour!!!

DS on the first monorail ride of the trip!

DD on the first monorail ride of the trip!

first view of the castle of the trip!

fire knife (i think that's what it's called) twirler at Spirit of Aloha!

DD and I on the morning of her 7th b-day at 1900 Park Fare!

The Dapper Dan's singing Happy Birthday to DD!!

DD making a birthday wish!

DD getting all princessed up for her b-day!

my fav BB picture!!

one of my favorite pictures of all time! SIL took it! DD on the grand staircase at GF! Waiting for her prince to come...

My favorite picture of all time! We have an 8x10 framed on the wall! Ryan
meeting Mickey for first time


Kiddos with Aladdin and Jasmine!! Johnny had just purchased the fez and Aladdin was very impressed with it!

sleeping baby pirate at P&PP

DS with Capt Jack!! He was speechless he was so excited!!

cute Meerkat at AK

FIL and his new girlfriend at Hoop De Doo!!!

my 2 sick boys asleep together!

us with mickey!

kiddos with Pooh at CP!
and last but not least links to my really good (if I do say so myself

) video of Illuminations! It had to be posted to my webshots in 2 separate files so it's 2 separate links! We were front and center, up close and personal with Illuminations because of the Illuminations dinner and desert Magical Gatherings experience!
Illuminations 1 Illuminations 2
So thats it for 08!! Be back soon with more
