When: May 1 May 10
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Friday, May 4
Mickey called again at 7:30 am up and at em right, Mick were moving! Lucy and Hector left at 9 to get some princess Minnie ears, and I headed down to the concierge to get some leis for Mare and the kids. (They didnt get any when they checked in last night at 11:00.) Mom and I met Mare, Jimmy and the girls at the door to Tokelau, and we had a brief conversation with Mo and family, and Hectors mom, grandmom and friend Ivette, who were all out having breakfast on their third floor Tokelau balconies. We headed to the GCH and the monorail; Shannon was fascinated by some ducks we met on the path. At the monorail station we met up with our good friends and neighbors Donna, John and their son Nicky. We shared a monorail car, and Shannon liked it so much she didnt want to get off. We said goodbye to our friends and hustled down Main Street for our 9:30 PS at Cinderellas Royal Table. We arrived around ten minutes late, and joined the large crowd waiting to be called for breakfast. The girls looked adorable in their princess Minnie ears, and Lucy and Hector were wearing their bride and groom ears. Our royal family was announced and we headed upstairs about twenty minutes later. (We never did make it to the front of the Fairy Godmother line, but Britt did find Jacque and Gus-Gus hiding in the parapet, and the Fairy Godmother came upstairs towards the end of breakfast.) We all enjoyed our traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, cheesy potatoes and cream cheese French toast (except mom who went with the healthy choice). Shannon loved the cantaloupe, Mare had to request a second serving of fruit. The characters this morning were Aladdin, Snow White, Belle, Mary Poppins, the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella. Brittany posed for pictures with all of the characters, and Hector requested photos with Snow White and Cinderella. Brittany told Belle she was going to be a flower girl tomorrow, and Belle posed for a picture with the two flower girls and the FTC.
When we had finally seen everyone and eaten our fill, Mare and her family headed to Disney Studios Shannon LOVES Bear in the Big Blue House. Lucy and Hector stayed in the Magic Kingdom until their appointment times (manicure for her and tuxedo fitting for him) and Mom and I headed back to the Polynesian. I was hoping to catch up with my friends Eileen and Pura who were due in this morning, but I missed their call by about a half hour. I looked around the GCH and pool areas, but didnt see them. I came back to my room to do my nails, and got a call soon after that my brother Joel and his family had arrived and were already in their room in Tokelau. He and my ten year old nephew Drew (the ring bearer) came over to bring us a dress and suit that needed to be steamed, and Mom went back with them to see my sister in law Barb and fourteen year old niece Megan (who is a bridesmaid). I applied a second coat of nail polish, and looked up to see Megan walk past the window. I called her over, and she was SOOO excited to finally be at WDW and in her cousins wedding. She was getting reacquainted with the Polynesian, so I offered to walk with her and show her around. (Her last visit was six years ago.) She called her mom, and Barb decided to join us. We walked around the pool area, down near the boat rentals, back through the GCH and over to the concierge lounge for some water and cookies.
As we headed back downstairs, the concierge told me that Paul Allen was in my room waiting to steam the dresses. (We were doing moms, grandmoms, aunts and an uncle today bridal party tomorrow.) By this time Paul was actually in the FTCs room with Lucy and Hector, fitting Hectors tuxedo. I hung around and we chatted while Paul steamed six dresses and a suit. Paul is just as nice as can be, and working with him was a joy. After he left I went back to my room to dress for the rehearsal and welcome dinner. Rehearsal was on a VERY WINDY Sunset Pointe at 5:00 pm. The wind was blowing our hair all around and whipping at the womens skirts. We practiced walking in twice and that was about it. We decided my sister Mare should just walk in with Shannon so she wouldnt have a chance to take off down the hilly slope.
After rehearsal we all headed over to catch the monorail to the Grand Floridian, but as we entered the GCH we noticed a Disney cruise line bus sitting outside, and it was the wedding bus. We joined the guests from the All Stars Movies, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans for the quick ride over to the Grand Floridian. The ride was almost shorter, since the bus driver stopped and people started getting off at the Wedding Pavilion. (We were seated in the back and couldnt stop them quick enough.) We got everyone back on the bus and were dropped off at the main entrance to the hotel. The Grand Floridian Summerhouse Beach Bar is a great site for a rehearsal dinner. There are white tables with umbrellas and white chairs facing the Grand Floridian beach, the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Polynesian Resort in the distance. (We were worried that the new pool construction would obstruct our view, but we still faced out over white sand beach and the lagoon.) The formal service buffet style cookout was excellent - we had Dijon Vinaigrette Potato Salad, Herb Olive Oil Pasta Salad, Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with Condiments, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Corn Bread, Apple Pie, Macadamia Nut Brownies, Iced Tea and Lemonade and Coffee. The adults enjoyed table-hopping and the breathtaking view, and the kids loved playing on the Grand Floridian beach.
We had made arrangements to have family portraits done during the welcome dinner, and Disney photographer Michael and his assistant (Jill?) arrived shortly after 7:00 pm. Hectors family went off for pictures first they set up on a few chairs in the gardens behind the Grand Floridian main building. When they finished we took our turn, and the photographers were great with the kids even getting Shannons attention long enough to get some shots. Lucy and Hector then gave gifts to the bridal party and their moms. (They gave me the Harmony Kingdom Villains piece.) The group started to break up after this some were catching the monorail or bus back to their hotels, and other were waiting for the second bus run to Pleasure Island. By 9:00 pm it was Lucy and Hector, Vania, Marjorie, Eileen, Pura, Jerry and Susan and their boys and myself waiting for the wedding bus to Downtown Disney / Pleasure Island. We waited what seemed like a long time for the bus to return, so Eileen, Pura and I decided we would rather go back to the Polynesian for drinks at the Tambu Lounge.
We took the monorail back to the GCH (passing over ten buses filled with kids for Grad Night as they entered the Magic Kingdom) and were in the Tambu Lounge when my brother Mike found us he, brother Joel and cousin Steve were picking up drinks and a bottle of wine for a pool party. We added our drink order 3 melon coladas yum! and joined the group on lounge chairs by the volcano pool. My sister and two brothers and their families, and my cousin and her husband had all decided that hanging by the pool (drinking!!) was more their speed than PI. (We must all be getting old LOL!) The kids swam while the adults guzzled drinks until sometime after Grad Night started (we could hear the band probably around 11:15) and then we began to wander back to our rooms. Tomorrows the big day!
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Friday, May 4
Mickey called again at 7:30 am up and at em right, Mick were moving! Lucy and Hector left at 9 to get some princess Minnie ears, and I headed down to the concierge to get some leis for Mare and the kids. (They didnt get any when they checked in last night at 11:00.) Mom and I met Mare, Jimmy and the girls at the door to Tokelau, and we had a brief conversation with Mo and family, and Hectors mom, grandmom and friend Ivette, who were all out having breakfast on their third floor Tokelau balconies. We headed to the GCH and the monorail; Shannon was fascinated by some ducks we met on the path. At the monorail station we met up with our good friends and neighbors Donna, John and their son Nicky. We shared a monorail car, and Shannon liked it so much she didnt want to get off. We said goodbye to our friends and hustled down Main Street for our 9:30 PS at Cinderellas Royal Table. We arrived around ten minutes late, and joined the large crowd waiting to be called for breakfast. The girls looked adorable in their princess Minnie ears, and Lucy and Hector were wearing their bride and groom ears. Our royal family was announced and we headed upstairs about twenty minutes later. (We never did make it to the front of the Fairy Godmother line, but Britt did find Jacque and Gus-Gus hiding in the parapet, and the Fairy Godmother came upstairs towards the end of breakfast.) We all enjoyed our traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, cheesy potatoes and cream cheese French toast (except mom who went with the healthy choice). Shannon loved the cantaloupe, Mare had to request a second serving of fruit. The characters this morning were Aladdin, Snow White, Belle, Mary Poppins, the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella. Brittany posed for pictures with all of the characters, and Hector requested photos with Snow White and Cinderella. Brittany told Belle she was going to be a flower girl tomorrow, and Belle posed for a picture with the two flower girls and the FTC.
When we had finally seen everyone and eaten our fill, Mare and her family headed to Disney Studios Shannon LOVES Bear in the Big Blue House. Lucy and Hector stayed in the Magic Kingdom until their appointment times (manicure for her and tuxedo fitting for him) and Mom and I headed back to the Polynesian. I was hoping to catch up with my friends Eileen and Pura who were due in this morning, but I missed their call by about a half hour. I looked around the GCH and pool areas, but didnt see them. I came back to my room to do my nails, and got a call soon after that my brother Joel and his family had arrived and were already in their room in Tokelau. He and my ten year old nephew Drew (the ring bearer) came over to bring us a dress and suit that needed to be steamed, and Mom went back with them to see my sister in law Barb and fourteen year old niece Megan (who is a bridesmaid). I applied a second coat of nail polish, and looked up to see Megan walk past the window. I called her over, and she was SOOO excited to finally be at WDW and in her cousins wedding. She was getting reacquainted with the Polynesian, so I offered to walk with her and show her around. (Her last visit was six years ago.) She called her mom, and Barb decided to join us. We walked around the pool area, down near the boat rentals, back through the GCH and over to the concierge lounge for some water and cookies.
As we headed back downstairs, the concierge told me that Paul Allen was in my room waiting to steam the dresses. (We were doing moms, grandmoms, aunts and an uncle today bridal party tomorrow.) By this time Paul was actually in the FTCs room with Lucy and Hector, fitting Hectors tuxedo. I hung around and we chatted while Paul steamed six dresses and a suit. Paul is just as nice as can be, and working with him was a joy. After he left I went back to my room to dress for the rehearsal and welcome dinner. Rehearsal was on a VERY WINDY Sunset Pointe at 5:00 pm. The wind was blowing our hair all around and whipping at the womens skirts. We practiced walking in twice and that was about it. We decided my sister Mare should just walk in with Shannon so she wouldnt have a chance to take off down the hilly slope.
After rehearsal we all headed over to catch the monorail to the Grand Floridian, but as we entered the GCH we noticed a Disney cruise line bus sitting outside, and it was the wedding bus. We joined the guests from the All Stars Movies, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans for the quick ride over to the Grand Floridian. The ride was almost shorter, since the bus driver stopped and people started getting off at the Wedding Pavilion. (We were seated in the back and couldnt stop them quick enough.) We got everyone back on the bus and were dropped off at the main entrance to the hotel. The Grand Floridian Summerhouse Beach Bar is a great site for a rehearsal dinner. There are white tables with umbrellas and white chairs facing the Grand Floridian beach, the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Polynesian Resort in the distance. (We were worried that the new pool construction would obstruct our view, but we still faced out over white sand beach and the lagoon.) The formal service buffet style cookout was excellent - we had Dijon Vinaigrette Potato Salad, Herb Olive Oil Pasta Salad, Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with Condiments, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Corn Bread, Apple Pie, Macadamia Nut Brownies, Iced Tea and Lemonade and Coffee. The adults enjoyed table-hopping and the breathtaking view, and the kids loved playing on the Grand Floridian beach.
We had made arrangements to have family portraits done during the welcome dinner, and Disney photographer Michael and his assistant (Jill?) arrived shortly after 7:00 pm. Hectors family went off for pictures first they set up on a few chairs in the gardens behind the Grand Floridian main building. When they finished we took our turn, and the photographers were great with the kids even getting Shannons attention long enough to get some shots. Lucy and Hector then gave gifts to the bridal party and their moms. (They gave me the Harmony Kingdom Villains piece.) The group started to break up after this some were catching the monorail or bus back to their hotels, and other were waiting for the second bus run to Pleasure Island. By 9:00 pm it was Lucy and Hector, Vania, Marjorie, Eileen, Pura, Jerry and Susan and their boys and myself waiting for the wedding bus to Downtown Disney / Pleasure Island. We waited what seemed like a long time for the bus to return, so Eileen, Pura and I decided we would rather go back to the Polynesian for drinks at the Tambu Lounge.
We took the monorail back to the GCH (passing over ten buses filled with kids for Grad Night as they entered the Magic Kingdom) and were in the Tambu Lounge when my brother Mike found us he, brother Joel and cousin Steve were picking up drinks and a bottle of wine for a pool party. We added our drink order 3 melon coladas yum! and joined the group on lounge chairs by the volcano pool. My sister and two brothers and their families, and my cousin and her husband had all decided that hanging by the pool (drinking!!) was more their speed than PI. (We must all be getting old LOL!) The kids swam while the adults guzzled drinks until sometime after Grad Night started (we could hear the band probably around 11:15) and then we began to wander back to our rooms. Tomorrows the big day!
