Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Surprise BD Trip!! ** Final updates, finally

[DenLo]

 

[Pixieflip]

Picked her up from school. Heading over to Mom's. All is ready!

Will check back in tonight with photos of the reveal. Then we have to pack!!! Wish me luck that it all works out!

 

[Pixieflip]

Everything went great! She loved it, the shirts came out cute and even our DME packet arrived in time. DD was shocked.. We arrived to Mom and Dad's house and they were sitting in the living room with my grandparents waiting for us, with the box in the middle of the room. She had no idea. Here's how it unfolded:

She said as soon as she saw the Mickey balloon, she knew!

No way!!!!

The Crystal Palace on my birthday??!

Here she is with her binder, scrapbook supplies and shirts. Somewhere is the pin I picked up from Old Key West when we were there at Christmas.

The shirts up close. She loves them:

Didn't my mom make an awesome cake?

Table decorations:

DS8, aka Heff (always in his bathrobe, that kid cracks us up), he says there's two things wrong today...1 - he's not going to WDW and 2 - this is a PRINCESS PARTY. He begged for any plate besides the pink ones for his pizza.

Dad is driving us to the airport in 15 minutes and here I am sending this out! Have to pull myself together, but off we go! Will check in when we return!!! Have a magical week!

 

[Sunshine22]

What a great surprise for your daughter! She'll always remember how special you made her 13th birthday. Our daughter's 12th birthday will be the last day of our spring break trip to Disney. You've inspired me to get creative and add some surprise touches to her special day!

 

[DenLo]

Have a wonderful trip and here's some pixiedust to make it better.

 

[DizGirl20]

I just found this thread so I imagine by now you are well on your way. I have a daughter who will turn 13 in September. You are my inspiration. You are a very cool Mom!!!

Wishing you a trip full of wonderful memories. How amazing for all 3 of you! I think the memories you make will be priceless.

If you have a chance, send us updates!!!

 

[Pixieflip]

I'm sorry I couldn't give you live updates, but we didn't take the computer. I did keep a journal and will share it all. What a wonderful time!!! Tonight I have some catching up to do with the other kids, so I will get to you with photos soon. For now, I offer you this thought.

I think after nine years of ownership, I finally feel like a DVC Member. Does that sound weird? We've done a bunch of trips, but one of them was a cruise and that took 3 years of points, one was a week in a 2 bedroom at BCV, that took over 2 years of points...we always stay so long we can't go as often as we'd like. But this year, with staying part of our two week Christmas trip off property and then our 5 nights at Kidani January 3 to 8th, I feel like we've been there a lot. (Plus, you must understand that it has been 3 years since we've been before that! We were Disney deprived! And it made us all the more thankful to just be there, even if the crowds were crazy over Christmas and New Years.)

So after that trip, spending over 4 days at WDW on a medium crowd level week, we just took our time. We didn't kill it. We strolled. We people watched. Enjoyed other small children. Chatted with strangers. Made friends with a family from Nottingham, England, on the monorail. We didn't feel the need to do everything, we'd just done it all in January. We did what we wanted. And I know we have two more trips planned in 2010, so I know we'll be back, very soon. Very different, contented feeling as we left. I've read here where some of you have described how DVC changed the way you vacation and now I get it. And I love it.

Off for some family time...

 

[Crystal_27]

I think after nine years of ownership, I finally feel like a DVC Member.

That is awesome!! I can't wait to hear all the details!

 

[2littleprincesses]

Hi! loved your PTR! I am doing a 3 generation trip too with my mom and dds. Who created your shirt designs? I know the one with the 3 mickey heads, but love the other one. Can you tell me who did it? Thanks!

 

[Pixieflip]

Wow, it's been a year since this trip and I thought I'd add a few final notes on the fun.

Basically, it was just a grand time. My kids do everything together and there are four of them, so time alone anywhere with them is precious. She felt like a rock star. My mom spoiled both of us with treats and fun. Here are some highlights of the trip:


Our Studio at OKW. It wasn't refurbished, but we loved it. Lots of lovely neighbors wrote birthday wishes on her signs and those went into her scrapbook.

Arrival day at the MK, one with me and one with my mom. Always fun to stand there and remember you were just at home this morning! After this we sprinted to BTMRR thinking the lines would be so long for EMH. NOT SO!!! We rode over and over! And felt a little silly for having sprinted.

Canada had some fun Olympic merchandise and the medal count, too.

Love Soarin'!

Marie has always been one of her favorites.

Stitch is her ABSOLUTE favorite!

Grandma let all 3 of us do the Pick a Pearl at Epcot and we each chose pretty necklace charm settings. My mom LOVES to do that so much that the ladies there KNOW HER FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS!!!!!!!!!

Standing on the walkway by the rose gardens watching Illuminations. A great way to end a day.

 

[Pixieflip]

Fun at DHS:

Though she didn't audition for the AIE, she does love to sing. Maybe now that she's 14....

Gotta have a photo with Bo!

Everywhere we went, they made her birthday special. At the 50's Prime Time Cafe, the whole restaurant sang and wrote on a card they passed around.

 

[Pixieflip]

We stayed one night at POFQ and then 3 at OKW. Once we got planning, 3 nights wasn't enough! We're so spoiled!

Here's what happens when you bite into a really hot beignet!

We didn't swim, but we did take a walk around the resort remembering the trip we had there when she was about 5. Too bad she's so uncomfortable in front of the camera, huh?

And here we are at OKW, texting some of our friends who were supposed to be busy at school.

I just saw the name of this place at the GF the other day on another thread. Now I can't remember. But we love to go there and remember the scene from Full House when Aunt Becky gives away her picnic basket to Chip and Dale. Ahhh, the silly shows we love because they involve WDW.

I saved this moment for her trip. I have always wanted to do Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian. It was worth the wait. Sooooooo lovely. We each brought home a special blend. DD picked the Princess Blend. Delicious.

And a Hidden Mickey in my tea. DD loved that I took the picture. My mom was horrified!!

Seemed like everyone knew it was her birthday, even the gift shop at the GF was prepared.