OregonMickeyLover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2009
- Messages
- 274
Welcome! I am about to attempt my first ever PTR, and depending on how it goes, I will attempt my first TR!
A little about me and our DL history: I am Traci, and will turn 42 in the land of Mickey, on Nov. 1st. I am a kindergarten/first grade teacher
in a private Christian school in Gresham, Oregon. As a child, I only went to DL one time at the age of 7. My next trip was as a babysitter for a family, at the age of 22 (1991). The next visit wasn't until May 2003 with my DH, our families, and more importantly, our 2 1/2 year old daughter Bryndi. Our next trip was for her 5th b-day (and mine too!) in Oct. 2006. Our most recent trip was in Oct. 2009 to celebrate her 8th b-day and my 40th 
We went with friends and their 15 year old son who had never been before. So now we are at today, and we are once again planning to go for mine and DD b-day (her 10th and my ???). We love seeing the parks decorated with pumpkins 
The most exciting part is....DD has no idea we are going, but I will get to that later!
A little about DH: His name is Bret (41), and we met on a blind date in Jan. 1997. He proposed 3 months later, and we got married 9-12-98. He had never been to DL until we took our DD in 2003, and it was so special to not only see DL through my daughters eyes, but I saw the child in my DH come out as well. It was magical
He works very hard as a 911 supervisor, and has been at the job for 22 years. I enjoy planning our vacations so that he can truly relax and get away from the stress that his job creates.
A little about DD: Her name is Bryndi, and she is our little miracle baby. We are so blessed to have her, and I am beyond grateful that I get to be her Mom. She is the quintessential tomboy (takes after her mom) and doesn't like anything pink, princessy (technical term), or too girlie. Her favorite things to do are watch movies, play basketball, draw, watch "Chuck", and read Percy Jackson books over, and over, and over. She is a low-key, go with flow, no drama kind of kid, which is what her friends and teachers appreciate most about her. And as her mother, I love that about her too. She makes me want to be better, and even when I'm not at my best, in her eyes I am perfect
Okay, enough of the mushy stuff, let's talk about the SURPRISE!
So as I mentioned, Bryn has no idea that we are planning this trip, and in fact, until about a week ago, I didn't either
I was talking to DH about it being DD first double-digit birthday, and what we should do. Naturally, since we have had two of her b-days in DL, I thought it was reasonable to throw it out there as a suggestion, never expecting him to say "Sure, I think it would be great. Especially if we surprise her!" That was all I needed to hear, and I was on the computer checking out prices. Within a couple hours we had a room reservation and prices for everything else. You should know that I am a very detailed (anal) planner, and want to make sure that there are no "bad" surprises. I am a list maker who makes lists of her lists 
So as of now, these are the plans:
10-29-11 (DD b-day) She had mentioned a few weeks back wanting to take a limo ride, and I said maybe for her b-day we could do that. Well that was before I knew about this trip. So now, the limo will pick us up in the morning, and she will think we are just going for a drive. What she won't know is that our drive will be to the airport!
My plan is to have a character call come in within a few minutes of arriving at the airport, telling her where we are going. We are flying into Long Beach from PDX that morning, and staying at the Desert Inn & Suites. Usually we drop-off our luggage and head to the park to have lunch at Carnation Cafe, which is our traditional first meal in the park. Hopefully Oscar will be working, he's so great
Because the DL schedules aren't out yet, I can't give specific dates that we are doing things, but I do know what we want to do:
WOC dinner at Ariel's
Blue Bayou, Tortilla Jo's, Ralph Brennan's, Buca di Beppo
Happiest Haunts Tour
Mickey's Halloween Party
A day at Sea World (none of us has been!!!)
Pirate Adventure dinner (last time we did Medievil Times and it)
Parade/Fireworks/Fantasmic
We are flying home on Sat. 11-5-11 which gives us 7 nights/8 days!!!
Right now my biggest concern is keeping this surprise in for the next 4 months
When I am feeling weak, I watch the "Disney Surprise" YouTube videos, which inspire me to keep it in! Thank goodness for the DISboards also, because being able to share this with you guys, really helps!!!
I appreciate so much being able to come to the DISboards for advice, feedback, information, you name it! If you read this far, thank you so much
Magical Blessings,
Traci
A little about me and our DL history: I am Traci, and will turn 42 in the land of Mickey, on Nov. 1st. I am a kindergarten/first grade teacher
in a private Christian school in Gresham, Oregon. As a child, I only went to DL one time at the age of 7. My next trip was as a babysitter for a family, at the age of 22 (1991). The next visit wasn't until May 2003 with my DH, our families, and more importantly, our 2 1/2 year old daughter Bryndi. Our next trip was for her 5th b-day (and mine too!) in Oct. 2006. Our most recent trip was in Oct. 2009 to celebrate her 8th b-day and my 40th We went with friends and their 15 year old son who had never been before. So now we are at today, and we are once again planning to go for mine and DD b-day (her 10th and my ???). We love seeing the parks decorated with pumpkins The most exciting part is....DD has no idea we are going, but I will get to that later!A little about DH: His name is Bret (41), and we met on a blind date in Jan. 1997. He proposed 3 months later, and we got married 9-12-98. He had never been to DL until we took our DD in 2003, and it was so special to not only see DL through my daughters eyes, but I saw the child in my DH come out as well. It was magical
He works very hard as a 911 supervisor, and has been at the job for 22 years. I enjoy planning our vacations so that he can truly relax and get away from the stress that his job creates.A little about DD: Her name is Bryndi, and she is our little miracle baby. We are so blessed to have her, and I am beyond grateful that I get to be her Mom. She is the quintessential tomboy (takes after her mom) and doesn't like anything pink, princessy (technical term), or too girlie. Her favorite things to do are watch movies, play basketball, draw, watch "Chuck", and read Percy Jackson books over, and over, and over. She is a low-key, go with flow, no drama kind of kid, which is what her friends and teachers appreciate most about her. And as her mother, I love that about her too. She makes me want to be better, and even when I'm not at my best, in her eyes I am perfect
Okay, enough of the mushy stuff, let's talk about the SURPRISE!So as I mentioned, Bryn has no idea that we are planning this trip, and in fact, until about a week ago, I didn't either
I was talking to DH about it being DD first double-digit birthday, and what we should do. Naturally, since we have had two of her b-days in DL, I thought it was reasonable to throw it out there as a suggestion, never expecting him to say "Sure, I think it would be great. Especially if we surprise her!" That was all I needed to hear, and I was on the computer checking out prices. Within a couple hours we had a room reservation and prices for everything else. You should know that I am a very detailed (anal) planner, and want to make sure that there are no "bad" surprises. I am a list maker who makes lists of her lists So as of now, these are the plans:
10-29-11 (DD b-day) She had mentioned a few weeks back wanting to take a limo ride, and I said maybe for her b-day we could do that. Well that was before I knew about this trip. So now, the limo will pick us up in the morning, and she will think we are just going for a drive. What she won't know is that our drive will be to the airport!
My plan is to have a character call come in within a few minutes of arriving at the airport, telling her where we are going. We are flying into Long Beach from PDX that morning, and staying at the Desert Inn & Suites. Usually we drop-off our luggage and head to the park to have lunch at Carnation Cafe, which is our traditional first meal in the park. Hopefully Oscar will be working, he's so great Because the DL schedules aren't out yet, I can't give specific dates that we are doing things, but I do know what we want to do:
WOC dinner at Ariel's
Blue Bayou, Tortilla Jo's, Ralph Brennan's, Buca di Beppo
Happiest Haunts Tour
Mickey's Halloween Party
A day at Sea World (none of us has been!!!)
Pirate Adventure dinner (last time we did Medievil Times and
it)Parade/Fireworks/Fantasmic
We are flying home on Sat. 11-5-11 which gives us 7 nights/8 days!!!
Right now my biggest concern is keeping this surprise in for the next 4 months
When I am feeling weak, I watch the "Disney Surprise" YouTube videos, which inspire me to keep it in! Thank goodness for the DISboards also, because being able to share this with you guys, really helps!!!I appreciate so much being able to come to the DISboards for advice, feedback, information, you name it! If you read this far, thank you so much
Magical Blessings,
Traci
And like you.....an uber-planner.....lol
I know it will be well worth it! I have been watching the 
