Dan Murphy
We are family.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2000
- Messages
- 83,896
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. 
For those of you who have read my Embryo, Parts I and II, you seem to have liked it, so I will not change my format.
For those who have not read them, I am continuing to attempt to present my trip report in a somewhat different than normal fashion, since I think our trip developed somewhat differently than many trips do. In life, there is first an embryo, then fetal development, and then glorious birth of a baby. I am hoping to present my story along those lines, in 3 parts, (actually 4 because the Embryo wound up too big and grew, (appropriate), to 2 parts of its own. I have previously posted Embryo Parts I and II. 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
Today I finally continue to the second stage, Fetal Development. To 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 dont 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
Click to go to Dan's DIS Web Page
Dan Murphyme, age 55, Financial Planner
Mariemy dear wife, a few years my younger, full time mom, spouse, and homemaker
Nataliemy dear daughter, turned 19 on our trip, first year college student
Vincentmy dear son, age 22, working towards becoming a firefighter
Our Magic Time:
Sunday, November 28, 1999Monday, December 6, 1999
Click to go to Dan's DIS Web Page
As I concluded my last Trip Report, the Murphy Family was sliding over from 1998 to 1999. New Years day of 1999 brought with it the 2nd worst snowstorm to ever hit Chicago and its environs
, (worst ever was 1967 and I am old enough to remember that one too). We were buried under 21 inches of the fluffy stuff. Now I know the likes of Cathy Canada, (Canada of course) and LilMermaid (Minnesota) may look at 21 inches as snowman (person to be PC) weather, but in Chicago, that does get our attention. LOL It took about a week to 10 days to get back to normal, whatever normal is. My thoughts were now even more definitely thinking of Orlando and activities that might be associated with that part of the country (hint).
Marie was still on her road to recovery/remission. The discussion of a trip to Disney World was, from the familys perspective only just a misguided, past preoccupation by dad, and not really part of our early 1999 fascinations, (I did say our, not me)
As you might remember, at this time I now was the proud owner of a ressie, (Im a pro at this point now with the lingo
), for a garden view room at The Polynesian Resort for Thanksgiving week, Sunday November 21Sunday December 5, 1999. Thats it; nothing else. Well, as the days added up to weeks, and the weeks grew into months, I continued my search for what I was hoping to be the best ever Celebration for the Murphys.
I continued to purchase a collection of Disney World books, manuals, how-to-do-its, and the like, (sounds like I was getting married for the 1st time).(and BTW, it has been only once) These continued to whet my appetite. Among them were: The Official, (had 98 from my trip in 98 and then bought the 99)(actually got the 00 before it was all over, LOL), the Unofficial, (same for these editions), Rita Aero for Adults, Frommers WDW Guide, Official Without Kids, AAA, Unofficial for Grown-Ups, Orlando Visitors Guide, Complete Idiots Guide, (the worst of the lot)(you need to be an idiot, LOL:madJ, Everything Guide to WDW, (also bad), Unofficial Mini-Mickey, Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. vacation planning brochures both small and large size, (actually quite helpful IMHOthere I go again with the acconyms ), Disney Vacation Planning Videos, a Spring advertising supplement to the Chicago Tribune and, I think lastly, but not necessarily in that order, PassPorter. Am I goofy, or what?
I surfed the net and read the stuff I had accumulated and was getting thoroughly confused. 
A brief litany of web sites I had visited: Bennetts Disney Planning, Digital Disney, Disney Official, Disneytrips, Google, Intercot, Kevins WDW Resource, Lampwicks, Sylvias, WDWIG, Yahoo, etc, etc, etc. Of those and others, the ones I still revisit periodically and I think are good are WDWIG, PassPorter, and Steve Soares WDW Entertainment Guide.
Now I am going to leap forward to, I guess sometime in the early spring of this year, (99). Somehow I came across Pete Werner's Unofficial Disney Information Station
internet site. Somehow, I searched the right parameters, or maybe it was always there and I just had not yet clicked on it, but now I had found DIS. It was still the old style when I happened by, (for those of you who have found DIS after August 99, it hasnt always been this nice
Well, I started, as most DIS people (as if they are a nationality, ) do, as a lurker, (BTW, as I am composing this, I keep flipping back to the DIS boards, (to save my sanity), and LilMermaid has a current post inviting all lurkers to join, LOL) I slowly learned how the boards worked and just as importantly, the rest of the DIS website; it is a very rich site with gobs of information. I did not really know anybodys name back then, it was just a big hoge poge of info, an overwhelming amount of info.:confusing: Everybody was asking, answering, reporting, asking, answering, reporting. I slowly learned how it worked, I thought. I was printing copies of stuff that I thought I needed to review and/or keep. It was starting to look like a recycling center in my bedroom where the puter is.
As the spring started to flower into summer, Marie continued her courageous fight against her enemy, breast cancer. She, as I pointed out previously, is a tenacious fighter.
I continued trying to hone my WDW planning craft. I started to become acquainted with the likes of, in no particular order,Candie, Wilderness, Doc, Cruella, Michelle, Alex, Kaa, Kelsie, Linda, Zarr, CMVicki, Misti, BethR, Sir Mickey, Baloo, SimonV, Nikole, DVCReg, GeneL, Pete, John, and one of my very favs, CathyCanada
. Now you tell me that is not a nationality unto its own! What a group! ROFLOL Also the likes of some whom I still have copies of their stuff or bump into them now and then: bsnyder, Mare, KarenNY, goofy1215, Peggy Sue, Tiffany, Hoosier Mom, Blondie, sully, snuggles, RhondaS, Ashley, Robinrs, bluexmas, moduffy, Rajah, Pumba, Von, Poohstyx, Delaney, mikamouse, Angiebelle, Poohmom, Jules, hugcin, Commando, Frez, Tony-NJ, AngieIL, Judy from Boise, Floydian, Distefan2, gretel, Lynn CC, Scoobey and several who are very dear to my heart, (and I think many of you), LilMermaid, Snoopy, and TJMunk. Now, again, I ask you, Is this a group or what?
Obviously, many names are not listed; please no offense, just trying to get a respective flavor of our common love of goofiness.
Well, time was marching on and Thanksgiving week was moving ever closer, even though we were now only in late June. I had to make my move! I need to break the news to my DW, Marie, that again, we were going to say, Were going to Disney World! But how do I go about this daunting task? First, I needed to make sure Natalie and Vince would go. I needed them on my side. They remembered the debacle from 9 months previous where the plans did not materialize, (and in retrospect, best). They, and much to their credit and my joy, did not want to do anything that would not be in their moms best interest. Also, being older, the magic anticipation of WDW had been dulled some, I was sure. I started with my DD, Natalie. I asked her one evening, as I was chained to my puter, if she would like to go to WDW, if mom did. She replied she would, only though if Vince did also. Step one, whew! Find Vince. Some days later, same question. OK, but only if Natalie wants to go. Yeeeesssssss!
Now, the tough part! How do I ask my bride of 28 years, my fighter, if she would like to go to Disney World, after having gone through the past 18 months as she had, and with the knowledge of last fall. Well, I let Mickey be my fall guy. Of course, he was going to get the $$$$$, so lets put him up to it. Maries birthday was coming up on July 17. Got to be creative! As one of her presents, I got a kind of flat type box, about 8x8x2. In the box were my own makings; a Hallmark card I had found at the Hallmark store in the retirement section, (I was looking everywhere). I took the front page from the card and rigged up a second page as you would open it like a regular card. The card was the wrapped up nicely in tissue and placed in the box and duly wrapped. Along with this, I had the normal other gifts and cards and one other special card to be given if the stunt worked. It was a nice, warm summer evening, July 17, 1999, and we had dinner on our screened-in back porch. After dinner, it was time for presents. Mickey, you are up to bat!
When Marie started to open her presents, Natalie, Vince , and I had mutual eye contact. They were in on it. As she opened the box and undid the tissue, she stopped, looked up at the kids first, then me. Whats this?, she asked. Natalie asked, Well, are ya? A scan of the first page is posted here:
The inside of the card basically echoed Natalie. It asked, on the second page, Well? Marie was still for a moment. You could hear the crickets chirping in the still summer evening. Being ever respective of their wants and desires, Marie replied to Natalie and Vince, What does this mean? Natalie replies, Its Disney World, mom, do you want to go? Huh, how bout it? Marie pauses, thinks, and then says, Well, only if you kids want to go. Do you guys want to go? They both chimed in and said, Yeh, weve talked to dad and if you are up to it and if you want to go, so do we. Pause again. Well, if you guys want to, and, I know Dan does, then, OK! Yeeeesssss!!!! Mickey comes through again. Here is a picture of Marie and I, shortly after the Big Event. The second one is of Marie holding up the card. I had another Mickey card, (seen in foreground), that had the resort brochure in it, (also in picture), that I gave Marie after the affirmation on the first card. If it did not work, the other card would have stay in my lap.
Well, this brings us up to July 17, 1999. We are going to Disney World. I apologize for the length of these reports, but I am telling a story. So as to not pain you any longer with this post, I will again split this fetal development report into two. I am just too tired. I have been working on this since 9 AM and it is now 10 PM. And if longer, you will drift, as I am. I have played the Millennium CD, right here in my puter, all day; I am not tired of it.
The next report, Fetal Development Part II, (Im sorry), will be up soon. It should take our family from Maries birthday, and her concurrence to go to Disney World, (to us, a medical conquest) and with Mickeys most gracious help, through to our departure date, November 28, 1999. Date changes, (remember, we were leaving November 21), air ressies, (a little story in itself), more reading, studying, changes, purchases, questions, questions, questions, a most interesting pre-trip company announcement, a Cast Member named Xenia and what she did for us. Just a lot of stuff. If you have enjoyed reading this and the previous two, you should enjoy that one too. I dont have the foggiest idea what I am going to say; it just comes out. I type, revise, cut, paste, scan, resizekind of like a trip to WDW. Ill be back soon. In the meantime, visit my DIS website with the link posted at the beginning of this report. See yaall soon.
Click on Author Mickey for Dan's Fetal Development, Part II
For those of you who have read my Embryo, Parts I and II, you seem to have liked it, so I will not change my format.
For those who have not read them, I am continuing to attempt to present my trip report in a somewhat different than normal fashion, since I think our trip developed somewhat differently than many trips do. In life, there is first an embryo, then fetal development, and then glorious birth of a baby. I am hoping to present my story along those lines, in 3 parts, (actually 4 because the Embryo wound up too big and grew, (appropriate), to 2 parts of its own. I have previously posted Embryo Parts I and II. 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 IIToday I finally continue to the second stage, Fetal Development. To 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 dont 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
Click to go to Dan's DIS Web Page
Dan Murphyme, age 55, Financial Planner
Mariemy dear wife, a few years my younger, full time mom, spouse, and homemaker
Nataliemy dear daughter, turned 19 on our trip, first year college student
Vincentmy dear son, age 22, working towards becoming a firefighter
Our Magic Time:
Sunday, November 28, 1999Monday, December 6, 1999
Click to go to Dan's DIS Web Page
As I concluded my last Trip Report, the Murphy Family was sliding over from 1998 to 1999. New Years day of 1999 brought with it the 2nd worst snowstorm to ever hit Chicago and its environs
, (worst ever was 1967 and I am old enough to remember that one too). We were buried under 21 inches of the fluffy stuff. Now I know the likes of Cathy Canada, (Canada of course) and LilMermaid (Minnesota) may look at 21 inches as snowman (person to be PC) weather, but in Chicago, that does get our attention. LOL It took about a week to 10 days to get back to normal, whatever normal is. My thoughts were now even more definitely thinking of Orlando and activities that might be associated with that part of the country (hint). Marie was still on her road to recovery/remission.
The discussion of a trip to Disney World was, from the familys perspective only just a misguided, past preoccupation by dad, and not really part of our early 1999 fascinations, (I did say our, not me) As you might remember, at this time I now was the proud owner of a ressie, (Im a pro at this point now with the lingo ), for a garden view room at The Polynesian Resort for Thanksgiving week, Sunday November 21Sunday December 5, 1999. Thats it; nothing else. Well, as the days added up to weeks, and the weeks grew into months, I continued my search for what I was hoping to be the best ever Celebration for the Murphys.I continued to purchase a collection of Disney World books, manuals, how-to-do-its, and the like, (sounds like I was getting married for the 1st time).(and BTW, it has been only once) These continued to whet my appetite. Among them were: The Official, (had 98 from my trip in 98 and then bought the 99)(actually got the 00 before it was all over, LOL), the Unofficial, (same for these editions), Rita Aero for Adults, Frommers WDW Guide, Official Without Kids, AAA, Unofficial for Grown-Ups, Orlando Visitors Guide, Complete Idiots Guide, (the worst of the lot)(you need to be an idiot, LOL:madJ, Everything Guide to WDW, (also bad), Unofficial Mini-Mickey, Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. vacation planning brochures both small and large size, (actually quite helpful IMHOthere I go again with the acconyms
), Disney Vacation Planning Videos, a Spring advertising supplement to the Chicago Tribune and, I think lastly, but not necessarily in that order, PassPorter. Am I goofy, or what?
A brief litany of web sites I had visited: Bennetts Disney Planning, Digital Disney, Disney Official, Disneytrips, Google, Intercot, Kevins WDW Resource, Lampwicks, Sylvias, WDWIG, Yahoo, etc, etc, etc. Of those and others, the ones I still revisit periodically and I think are good are WDWIG, PassPorter, and Steve Soares WDW Entertainment Guide. Now I am going to leap forward to, I guess sometime in the early spring of this year, (99). Somehow I came across Pete Werner's Unofficial Disney Information Station
internet site. Somehow, I searched the right parameters, or maybe it was always there and I just had not yet clicked on it, but now I had found DIS. It was still the old style when I happened by, (for those of you who have found DIS after August 99, it hasnt always been this nice
Well, I started, as most DIS people (as if they are a nationality,
) do, as a lurker, (BTW, as I am composing this, I keep flipping back to the DIS boards, (to save my sanity), and LilMermaid has a current post inviting all lurkers to join, LOL) I slowly learned how the boards worked and just as importantly, the rest of the DIS website; it is a very rich site with gobs of information. I did not really know anybodys name back then, it was just a big hoge poge of info, an overwhelming amount of info.:confusing: Everybody was asking, answering, reporting, asking, answering, reporting. I slowly learned how it worked, I thought. I was printing copies of stuff that I thought I needed to review and/or keep. It was starting to look like a recycling center in my bedroom where the puter is.As the spring started to flower into summer, Marie continued her courageous fight against her enemy, breast cancer. She, as I pointed out previously, is a tenacious fighter.
I continued trying to hone my WDW planning craft. I started to become acquainted with the likes of, in no particular order,Candie, Wilderness, Doc, Cruella, Michelle, Alex, Kaa, Kelsie, Linda, Zarr, CMVicki, Misti, BethR, Sir Mickey, Baloo, SimonV, Nikole, DVCReg, GeneL, Pete, John, and one of my very favs, CathyCanada
. Now you tell me that is not a nationality unto its own! What a group! ROFLOL Also the likes of some whom I still have copies of their stuff or bump into them now and then: bsnyder, Mare, KarenNY, goofy1215, Peggy Sue, Tiffany, Hoosier Mom, Blondie, sully, snuggles, RhondaS, Ashley, Robinrs, bluexmas, moduffy, Rajah, Pumba, Von, Poohstyx, Delaney, mikamouse, Angiebelle, Poohmom, Jules, hugcin, Commando, Frez, Tony-NJ, AngieIL, Judy from Boise, Floydian, Distefan2, gretel, Lynn CC, Scoobey and several who are very dear to my heart, (and I think many of you), LilMermaid, Snoopy, and TJMunk. Now, again, I ask you, Is this a group or what? Obviously, many names are not listed; please no offense, just trying to get a respective flavor of our common love of goofiness.
Well, time was marching on and Thanksgiving week was moving ever closer, even though we were now only in late June. I had to make my move! I need to break the news to my DW, Marie, that again, we were going to say, Were going to Disney World!
But how do I go about this daunting task? First, I needed to make sure Natalie and Vince would go. I needed them on my side. They remembered the debacle from 9 months previous where the plans did not materialize, (and in retrospect, best). They, and much to their credit and my joy, did not want to do anything that would not be in their moms best interest. Also, being older, the magic anticipation of WDW had been dulled some, I was sure. I started with my DD, Natalie. I asked her one evening, as I was chained to my puter, if she would like to go to WDW, if mom did. She replied she would, only though if Vince did also. Step one, whew! Find Vince. Some days later, same question. OK, but only if Natalie wants to go. Yeeeesssssss! Now, the tough part! How do I ask my bride of 28 years, my fighter, if she would like to go to Disney World, after having gone through the past 18 months as she had, and with the knowledge of last fall. Well, I let Mickey be my fall guy. Of course, he was going to get the $$$$$, so lets put him up to it. Maries birthday was coming up on July 17. Got to be creative! As one of her presents, I got a kind of flat type box, about 8x8x2. In the box were my own makings; a Hallmark card I had found at the Hallmark store in the retirement section, (I was looking everywhere). I took the front page from the card and rigged up a second page as you would open it like a regular card. The card was the wrapped up nicely in tissue and placed in the box and duly wrapped. Along with this, I had the normal other gifts and cards and one other special card to be given if the stunt worked. It was a nice, warm summer evening, July 17, 1999, and we had dinner on our screened-in back porch. After dinner, it was time for presents. Mickey, you are up to bat!
When Marie started to open her presents, Natalie, Vince , and I had mutual eye contact. They were in on it. As she opened the box and undid the tissue, she stopped, looked up at the kids first, then me. Whats this?, she asked. Natalie asked, Well, are ya? A scan of the first page is posted here:
The inside of the card basically echoed Natalie. It asked, on the second page, Well? Marie was still for a moment. You could hear the crickets chirping in the still summer evening. Being ever respective of their wants and desires, Marie replied to Natalie and Vince, What does this mean?
Natalie replies, Its Disney World, mom, do you want to go? Huh, how bout it? Marie pauses, thinks, and then says, Well, only if you kids want to go. Do you guys want to go? They both chimed in and said, Yeh, weve talked to dad and if you are up to it and if you want to go, so do we. Pause again. Well, if you guys want to, and, I know Dan does, then, OK! Yeeeesssss!!!! Mickey comes through again. Here is a picture of Marie and I, shortly after the Big Event. The second one is of Marie holding up the card. I had another Mickey card, (seen in foreground), that had the resort brochure in it, (also in picture), that I gave Marie after the affirmation on the first card. If it did not work, the other card would have stay in my lap.
Well, this brings us up to July 17, 1999. We are going to Disney World. I apologize for the length of these reports, but I am telling a story. So as to not pain you any longer with this post, I will again split this fetal development report into two. I am just too tired. I have been working on this since 9 AM and it is now 10 PM. And if longer, you will drift, as I am. I have played the Millennium CD, right here in my puter, all day; I am not tired of it.
The next report, Fetal Development Part II, (Im sorry), will be up soon. It should take our family from Maries birthday, and her concurrence to go to Disney World, (to us, a medical conquest) and with Mickeys most gracious help, through to our departure date, November 28, 1999. Date changes, (remember, we were leaving November 21), air ressies, (a little story in itself), more reading, studying, changes, purchases, questions, questions, questions, a most interesting pre-trip company announcement, a Cast Member named Xenia and what she did for us. Just a lot of stuff. If you have enjoyed reading this and the previous two, you should enjoy that one too. I dont have the foggiest idea what I am going to say; it just comes out. I type, revise, cut, paste, scan, resizekind of like a trip to WDW.
Ill be back soon. In the meantime, visit my DIS website with the link posted at the beginning of this report. See yaall soon.
Click on Author Mickey for Dan's Fetal Development, Part II
Boggles the mind!! Thanks for posting!!
