snappy, your DD sounds adorable with her beautiful red hair. I loved reading your version of the "little things" at WDW!
I especially liked the Ariel and little girl with the same name and birthday stories.
That's what we really love about Disney, too: the "little things".
A few I can think of right now:
DD8 and I doing "The Twist" with CMs in the Everything Pop food court.
8 of us riding a surrey bike around the Boardwalk area and laughing so hard trying to get up the hill on the bridge to Swan/Dolphin, DH and DF eventually getting out to push.
Riding RnRC 14 times in two EMHs last January because it was the first time our kids could ride and besides ToT, that's all they wanted to go on.
Our first trip which was on Sept 21, 2001, just ten days after the WTC bombings and the mood in the nation was still one of shock and fear. We weren't sure about even going, let alone getting on a plane, but we went so as not to disappoint the kids or ourselves, it was their first plane ride and none of us had ever been to WDW before. We had a magical trip, and WDW was practically empty so we stayed an extra day.
Our trip in 2002 was to celebrate some big birthdays for all of us (40, 45, 5 and 5), as well as our 15th wedding anniversary. We booked a Contemporary Tower room as a treat to ourselves, and were so looking forward to our trip all year. Two weeks before our trip, Disney called to say they had to move us out of the CR (due to the Shades of Green renovation) but they were moving us over to the Polynesian and upgrading us to a Lagoon View Concierge room!
That was a special treat, but believe it or not we were really mad at first, LOL. The funny thing about that was that months earlier, I'd seen a psychic for fun, and she'd told me a lot of things about my deceased father. At the end of the reading, she said I'd be going to Hawaii. I kept saying, no, Florida, and she said, no, Hawaii: "I'm seeing them putting leis around your neck".
Later I remembered what she said when I realized the name of our building was Hawaii, and started to learn about the theme of the resort. And when our trip finally came and we pulled up to the Hawaii building in a golf cart and CMs greeted us by putting leis around our necks, I cried, because I felt like I was getting a special birthday gift from heaven.
In light of the year I had the following year, it became an even more special gift.
That trip, we celebrated the kids 5th birthday at Cinderella's castle. DD and DS were dressed in a Disney Princess costume and Captain Hook outfit. The Princesses and even Captain Hook himself gave them lots of attention that morning. DS, who is fairly shy, wanted no part of all the attention. In fact when they brought out the cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday, he slinked under the table. I have some great shots of Mary Poppins under the table with him!
Crossing the threshold of Disney Wonder on my post treatment trip was very emotional, I got teary since I'd dreamed about it all year. It was a healing trip for me, the beginning of a new phase of my life.
Being picked for Soarin Family was really great, a definite Magical Moment when the music began playing, all the characters ran down the hill, and we were pulled on the other side of the rope. My friend (who worked at Epcot in college) and I were jumping up and down, very excited!
There's a funny story that goes along with it but I can't post it here. If I ever meet you all in person, I'll tell you then.
On our first ever trip to AK, we arrived fairly late in the afternoon, just before 3pm. One CM told us to hurry up and get a spot along the parade route, today would be the very first time they ever had a parade. So we watched the very first Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade our very first day in AK.
The first few times DH and I watched Illuminations it always seemed to be in the pouring rain.
We have great memories of standing there in the rain with the little ones in umbrella strollers, covered with a clear plastic shower curtain to keep the rain off. Once I ran to McDonald's to get some McFlurries for the crying kids, and when I came back they were sound asleep. So we said WTH and ate the McFlurries while we watched the show even though they were sopping wet.
DH and the kids were on the (very small) elevator on Wonder once, when the door opens up and who walks in but Mickey Mouse!
They still talk about the time they had the Big Cheese to themselves for a few moments.
Another time, I was sitting on the bench just inside Palo waiting for the rest of my group to meet for dinner. It had been a little hectic getting there on time. I looked up and Goofy was walking by, he saw me and waved to me, I was the only one there. For some reason it just cracked me up and I couldn't stop smiling about it.
Yup, some really special vacation moments thanks to Disney. Thanks Pigeon and snappy for helping me remember some of them tonight, it was fun.
Would love to hear others' stories if you feel like sharing. Am missing WDW right now...
). He added a comment which I thought was pretty funny: "If you hear hooves, look for a horse, and not a zebra". 
But he said that where I've had all those tests both in 03 and again last summer, not to mention this pain began before I was even diagnosed with cancer, it would make it more unlikely it would be something more ominous (though obviously not out of the realm of possibility). But right now we'll look for the horse 
This could explain why we know so many people who've experienced this type of pain after treatment. I'll have to google it someday.
but we let it slip by. I myself like the HP, over the years I've finally learned how to really use it, and I like the pictures it takes (when the shutter is open). If I buy again I will probably get another HP if the operating buttons are similar since learning another all over again would be difficult.
~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~
It's still my favorite distraction...I'm not going this year, which still seems unreal to me as we have gone 3-4 x/yr in the past 4 yrs!!! I have other things planned though, plus I'm trying to be better with my $ 
We also had one of those impromtu character-bus run-ins like Laura...ours was at Epcot...it was amazing and we have SO many photos of the kids with SO many characters. But the most vivid and soecial moment I recall was our very first afternoon...we had settled in at Dixie Landings and were going to the food court for a bite and then hop the bus to Epcot. We left the room and started down the path through the grounds to the food court, just taking it all in. We were all happy and excited...DD and DS headed on down the path ahead of DH and I...and just as I smiled at DH and we took each others' hands, the KIDS grabbed each others hands and began skipping and laughing down the path ahead of us.....it was soooo sweet.
). I asked her if she would always be my Disney partner, and go with me on Peter Pan (one of my favs). She said, "Well, it does kinda raise my blood pressure." We both had one of those LOL moments where you can't catch your breath. I guess I complain about stuff (like practice driving with DD15 
