Author's note: This is a trip that DH and I took in September 2003. A little late, I know. For that, my sincerest apologies.
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
I actually slept through the night. But once the alarm goes off, I sprint from the bed, thinking about Dans reaction to the World when he sees it for the first time. The morning goes smoothly enough until about a mile from our home Dan realizes that he forgot his airport parking coupon. Going home at that point would put us back about 10 minutes, so Dan doesnt risk stressing me out over a few dollars savings.
Arriving at the airport goes smoothly enough, until we hit security check. Dan glances at my slip-ons and asks if there is any metal in them. I doubt it! I laughed at him. Then, screeeeeech! wails the metal detector. I walked over to the groping area. Security ladys hand detector goes off like a siren around my shoes. Then the hand detector screams at my bra and security ladys hands are all over my chest, feeling for well, nothing.
Dans preferred status with Northwest means he can bump up to first class if its available. Lucky for me it is! In the airplane Dan switches our tickets and waves bye as I turn left toward first class and he turns right for steerage. This is my first trip in first class ever, so Im arriving to the World in style.
Flight arrives to MCO a bit early, but Andy from FL Tours showed up just minutes after our luggage came off the carousel I was so excited to see him! He grabbed my suitcase and led us outside. Wait right here, he tells us, and literally runs to get the town car. Over to our left, about 25 people and their suitcases stood around and waited for the Mears driver to call their number, like hungry people at the meat shop the day before Thanksgiving. Just as the next two numbers were called, Andy pulls up with the car. Oh, this was so worth the few extra dollars. So long, Mears suckers! Tee hee.
The drive to WDW felt like eternity. My anticipation was building, wondering what Dan would think of it when he got there, and if it would even meet his expectations. I kept so much of the planning and WDW in general from him because I wanted each moment to be a surprise. Universal Studios and WDW billboards on the freeway only created more tension. What in the world was he thinking at this point? Was he even excited? Dan, stop reading the billboards I want you to have no expectations!
When the Contemporary Resort came into view, I just about cried. Were really here! This was probably the biggest moment for me finally arriving after months of planning and schedules and researching and dreaming. And still at the point of not knowing what Dan will think of this place, and praying that he will appreciate it like I do. So the bubble of building emotions, the past, present, and future, all burst in me at once. It was such a rush!
Our room was in the North Garden Wing, via Shades of Green. I requested (and got) a lake view. It was so pretty. But enough of that! Dan, get away from the window! Weve got park tickets to buy! Weve got to get my husband to Magic Kingdom, stat!
After buying the tickets, I asked Dan to detour toward the fourth-floor gift shop for a Pal Mickey. God I hope hes worth the $50! Dan thought I was nuts for buying him Ive been here four times before, why did I need a tour guide? As soon as I clipped him on my sports sack, the strap sagged down a few inches. He was heavier than I thought hed be. Is he going to be a pain to drag around? Ah well, no matter off to the MK!
Dan and I walked through the turnstiles and he kept asking where the heck the castle was. Its hard to contain yourself at a moment like this, because you just know that when you turn the corner down Main Street BAM! its gonna hit him like a freight train. And it did. He was in awe how something so big can be hidden. I was so giddy, loving that I was experiencing his first time. He snapped away with the camera, taking many castle pictures while I waited. I was trying to be very patient, reminding myself that he had a lot to absorb.
Walking toward Fantasyland, Pal Mickey finally vibrates and giggles. Dan! Hes got something to say! So I press his hand and we lean toward him, anxious to hear something about the park. Whie gick smooodmie thof gig clligkdk kwkjkjan weeddoough? He monning to tyknmav plie! What did he just say? I unclip him and hold him up to my ear and press him again. Why did Goofy throw the clock out the window? He wanted to see time FLY? Get it? Ha ha ha! Yeah, we get it. And youre not funny. Im already regretting the purchase. I clipped him back on my belt and two minutes later hes vibrating again. Again with the what did he say? and hes back at my ear, telling me thats Buzzs new anti-gravity book is so good, you cant put it down. Is this all hes got to say? $50 worth of bad puns? And Im not getting my moneys worth as long as hes clipped on my belt. If I want to hear him, I gotta carry him, and puns aside, hes going to get annoying pretty fast.
The big question was, which attraction first? How do I want Dans first attraction experience to be? What is he going to remember for the rest of his trip? Its A Small World, naturally. Let him think all Disney attractions are this repetitive and simple. By the end of the boat ride, Dan was singing the song. Over and over. For the rest of the day. For the rest of the trip. He wouldnt shut up. Between Dan and Pal Mickey, I was in for some 9 days of bad company.
Through the Haunted Mansion, through Pirates of the Caribbean, through Peter Pans Flight, Dan wasnt saying much (just singing that durn song). I didnt dare ask him if he was enjoying himself because I didnt want to sound like a pest. But I got a big reaction when we went on Splash Mountain. Again! Again! Hes running back in line like a twelve-year-old, and Im feeling suddenly very child-like myself. The problem is, we keep getting the front seat, Dan is 65, 280 lbs, and we are getting dumped with water. Meanwhile, Im trying like mad to keep my $50 Pun Mickey dry.
Cosmic Rays for lunch and entertainment. Our first meal in the World! This was also Dans first introduction to Disney prices. Welcome to WDW, Dan! Hope you enjoy every bite of your $10 chicken strips as much as Im enjoying my $8 veggie burger.
Now that our tummies are full, naturally were off to the Mad Tea Party. Dan and his brute strength had us spinning like a top. Lucky for both of us weve got stomachs of steel, so no ill effect when the ride was over except trying to walk to the exit.
Time for Space Mountain! Dan climbed into the rocket and discovered that, because of the way he sat into the seat, his shorts hiked up a bit when he sat down. His jewels had escaped their textile confinement and were subsequently hanging out of his shorts. Umm he kept saying as he tried to adjust himself in the seat to remedy the situation. Whats wrong? I asked from behind, having no idea of his predicament. But by now were almost ready for blastoff, and hes got to sit back down and try to deal with it. A female cast member ahead of us was giving Dan a very big thumbs-up. Hey Pal Mickey, you got a joke about that one?
So Dans jewels are safely returned to their hiding spot and Dan is mildly enjoying himself until we walk in the Buzz Lightyear line. When we turn the corner and the big fake Buzz comes into view, Dan shrieks, Its BUZZ! Thats Buzz! Out comes the twelve-year-old again, jumping up and down and pointing at Buzz. I know, I say, trying to remind myself that this is a first-timers view, and that Buzz is a favorite for Dan. Well, Im not sure what happened, but on the attraction he beat the pants off of me (no pun intended) and boy did he gloat about it. He didnt even know to keep the trigger depressed the entire time, and his score was 20,000 points higher than mine. Again! Again! he yells and we runs right back in line. Im not sure what I hit, but early into the second ride I had over 500,000 points. He saw my score and demanded to know how I got so much. By the time the ride was over, I had 999,999 Space Hero or something, and thats a first for me. Dan was very jealous and I noticed that he didnt ask to go back on again.
Pal Mickey vibrates and tells me that the parade is starting in about a half hour, and his favorite spot to watch the parade is in Frontierland. Finally something useful out of him! Too bad Dan and I dont watch parades.
Around 6pm we walk out of the MK and Pal Mickey vibrates. Hes had a swell day at the park, but hes tired now from all of those jokes and he needs a nap. We walk back to the CR, avoiding stepping on the newts, geckos, salamanders, or whatever those cute little guys are. God they were everywhere on the trail, and all around WDW when you stopped to search for them.
Chef Mickeys for dinner at 7. Okay, the line to get in is huge. Lucky for us we have priority seating and get to go to the back of the line and wait with everybody else. When we do manage to get seated, we run to the buffet line right away because our $30 lunch is pretty much spent. Hey, Mickey-shaped ravioli. How adorable. And mashed potatoes. And a salad bar with extremely limited options. Wait, is this all there is for me to eat? Refined carbs? Enough food for a carnivore, but what about us hungry vegetarians? Well, pile on the ravioli then and hope they dont suck.
Lucky for me the ravioli doesnt suck. But the rest of the food is bland buffet food, and Dan and I arent impressed. Here comes Chef Mickey himself! Dan, tell him he needs to work on his culinary skills while I take his picture. Say cheese! Oh Mickey, it wasnt THAT funny. Between you and the Pal Mickey, Im going to need one big break from the puns.
Then along comes Goofy. This guy is huge. Hes making the rounds with the kids, picking them up and hugging them. Dan the twelve-year-old wants to be picked up too, and yells, Me too! Pick me up too! And Goofy does just that. He sizes up my huge hubby, bends over, takes in a few exaggerated breaths, and then stands up and actually lifts Dan in the air for a moment. Good thing Ive got the camera, or no one will believe this. We cant stop laughing.
The bill comes. We stop laughing. $50 for WHAT? I guess we just paid for Dans airlift. Hope you enjoyed it, baby.
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
I actually slept through the night. But once the alarm goes off, I sprint from the bed, thinking about Dans reaction to the World when he sees it for the first time. The morning goes smoothly enough until about a mile from our home Dan realizes that he forgot his airport parking coupon. Going home at that point would put us back about 10 minutes, so Dan doesnt risk stressing me out over a few dollars savings.
Arriving at the airport goes smoothly enough, until we hit security check. Dan glances at my slip-ons and asks if there is any metal in them. I doubt it! I laughed at him. Then, screeeeeech! wails the metal detector. I walked over to the groping area. Security ladys hand detector goes off like a siren around my shoes. Then the hand detector screams at my bra and security ladys hands are all over my chest, feeling for well, nothing.
Dans preferred status with Northwest means he can bump up to first class if its available. Lucky for me it is! In the airplane Dan switches our tickets and waves bye as I turn left toward first class and he turns right for steerage. This is my first trip in first class ever, so Im arriving to the World in style.
Flight arrives to MCO a bit early, but Andy from FL Tours showed up just minutes after our luggage came off the carousel I was so excited to see him! He grabbed my suitcase and led us outside. Wait right here, he tells us, and literally runs to get the town car. Over to our left, about 25 people and their suitcases stood around and waited for the Mears driver to call their number, like hungry people at the meat shop the day before Thanksgiving. Just as the next two numbers were called, Andy pulls up with the car. Oh, this was so worth the few extra dollars. So long, Mears suckers! Tee hee.
The drive to WDW felt like eternity. My anticipation was building, wondering what Dan would think of it when he got there, and if it would even meet his expectations. I kept so much of the planning and WDW in general from him because I wanted each moment to be a surprise. Universal Studios and WDW billboards on the freeway only created more tension. What in the world was he thinking at this point? Was he even excited? Dan, stop reading the billboards I want you to have no expectations!
When the Contemporary Resort came into view, I just about cried. Were really here! This was probably the biggest moment for me finally arriving after months of planning and schedules and researching and dreaming. And still at the point of not knowing what Dan will think of this place, and praying that he will appreciate it like I do. So the bubble of building emotions, the past, present, and future, all burst in me at once. It was such a rush!
Our room was in the North Garden Wing, via Shades of Green. I requested (and got) a lake view. It was so pretty. But enough of that! Dan, get away from the window! Weve got park tickets to buy! Weve got to get my husband to Magic Kingdom, stat!
After buying the tickets, I asked Dan to detour toward the fourth-floor gift shop for a Pal Mickey. God I hope hes worth the $50! Dan thought I was nuts for buying him Ive been here four times before, why did I need a tour guide? As soon as I clipped him on my sports sack, the strap sagged down a few inches. He was heavier than I thought hed be. Is he going to be a pain to drag around? Ah well, no matter off to the MK!
Dan and I walked through the turnstiles and he kept asking where the heck the castle was. Its hard to contain yourself at a moment like this, because you just know that when you turn the corner down Main Street BAM! its gonna hit him like a freight train. And it did. He was in awe how something so big can be hidden. I was so giddy, loving that I was experiencing his first time. He snapped away with the camera, taking many castle pictures while I waited. I was trying to be very patient, reminding myself that he had a lot to absorb.
Walking toward Fantasyland, Pal Mickey finally vibrates and giggles. Dan! Hes got something to say! So I press his hand and we lean toward him, anxious to hear something about the park. Whie gick smooodmie thof gig clligkdk kwkjkjan weeddoough? He monning to tyknmav plie! What did he just say? I unclip him and hold him up to my ear and press him again. Why did Goofy throw the clock out the window? He wanted to see time FLY? Get it? Ha ha ha! Yeah, we get it. And youre not funny. Im already regretting the purchase. I clipped him back on my belt and two minutes later hes vibrating again. Again with the what did he say? and hes back at my ear, telling me thats Buzzs new anti-gravity book is so good, you cant put it down. Is this all hes got to say? $50 worth of bad puns? And Im not getting my moneys worth as long as hes clipped on my belt. If I want to hear him, I gotta carry him, and puns aside, hes going to get annoying pretty fast.
The big question was, which attraction first? How do I want Dans first attraction experience to be? What is he going to remember for the rest of his trip? Its A Small World, naturally. Let him think all Disney attractions are this repetitive and simple. By the end of the boat ride, Dan was singing the song. Over and over. For the rest of the day. For the rest of the trip. He wouldnt shut up. Between Dan and Pal Mickey, I was in for some 9 days of bad company.
Through the Haunted Mansion, through Pirates of the Caribbean, through Peter Pans Flight, Dan wasnt saying much (just singing that durn song). I didnt dare ask him if he was enjoying himself because I didnt want to sound like a pest. But I got a big reaction when we went on Splash Mountain. Again! Again! Hes running back in line like a twelve-year-old, and Im feeling suddenly very child-like myself. The problem is, we keep getting the front seat, Dan is 65, 280 lbs, and we are getting dumped with water. Meanwhile, Im trying like mad to keep my $50 Pun Mickey dry.
Cosmic Rays for lunch and entertainment. Our first meal in the World! This was also Dans first introduction to Disney prices. Welcome to WDW, Dan! Hope you enjoy every bite of your $10 chicken strips as much as Im enjoying my $8 veggie burger.
Now that our tummies are full, naturally were off to the Mad Tea Party. Dan and his brute strength had us spinning like a top. Lucky for both of us weve got stomachs of steel, so no ill effect when the ride was over except trying to walk to the exit.
Time for Space Mountain! Dan climbed into the rocket and discovered that, because of the way he sat into the seat, his shorts hiked up a bit when he sat down. His jewels had escaped their textile confinement and were subsequently hanging out of his shorts. Umm he kept saying as he tried to adjust himself in the seat to remedy the situation. Whats wrong? I asked from behind, having no idea of his predicament. But by now were almost ready for blastoff, and hes got to sit back down and try to deal with it. A female cast member ahead of us was giving Dan a very big thumbs-up. Hey Pal Mickey, you got a joke about that one?
So Dans jewels are safely returned to their hiding spot and Dan is mildly enjoying himself until we walk in the Buzz Lightyear line. When we turn the corner and the big fake Buzz comes into view, Dan shrieks, Its BUZZ! Thats Buzz! Out comes the twelve-year-old again, jumping up and down and pointing at Buzz. I know, I say, trying to remind myself that this is a first-timers view, and that Buzz is a favorite for Dan. Well, Im not sure what happened, but on the attraction he beat the pants off of me (no pun intended) and boy did he gloat about it. He didnt even know to keep the trigger depressed the entire time, and his score was 20,000 points higher than mine. Again! Again! he yells and we runs right back in line. Im not sure what I hit, but early into the second ride I had over 500,000 points. He saw my score and demanded to know how I got so much. By the time the ride was over, I had 999,999 Space Hero or something, and thats a first for me. Dan was very jealous and I noticed that he didnt ask to go back on again.
Pal Mickey vibrates and tells me that the parade is starting in about a half hour, and his favorite spot to watch the parade is in Frontierland. Finally something useful out of him! Too bad Dan and I dont watch parades.
Around 6pm we walk out of the MK and Pal Mickey vibrates. Hes had a swell day at the park, but hes tired now from all of those jokes and he needs a nap. We walk back to the CR, avoiding stepping on the newts, geckos, salamanders, or whatever those cute little guys are. God they were everywhere on the trail, and all around WDW when you stopped to search for them.
Chef Mickeys for dinner at 7. Okay, the line to get in is huge. Lucky for us we have priority seating and get to go to the back of the line and wait with everybody else. When we do manage to get seated, we run to the buffet line right away because our $30 lunch is pretty much spent. Hey, Mickey-shaped ravioli. How adorable. And mashed potatoes. And a salad bar with extremely limited options. Wait, is this all there is for me to eat? Refined carbs? Enough food for a carnivore, but what about us hungry vegetarians? Well, pile on the ravioli then and hope they dont suck.
Lucky for me the ravioli doesnt suck. But the rest of the food is bland buffet food, and Dan and I arent impressed. Here comes Chef Mickey himself! Dan, tell him he needs to work on his culinary skills while I take his picture. Say cheese! Oh Mickey, it wasnt THAT funny. Between you and the Pal Mickey, Im going to need one big break from the puns.
Then along comes Goofy. This guy is huge. Hes making the rounds with the kids, picking them up and hugging them. Dan the twelve-year-old wants to be picked up too, and yells, Me too! Pick me up too! And Goofy does just that. He sizes up my huge hubby, bends over, takes in a few exaggerated breaths, and then stands up and actually lifts Dan in the air for a moment. Good thing Ive got the camera, or no one will believe this. We cant stop laughing.
The bill comes. We stop laughing. $50 for WHAT? I guess we just paid for Dans airlift. Hope you enjoyed it, baby.
Glad your DH had a great time.
