It's our "Last" Trip to WDW, so we're going DELUXE! *We're Back After 11 Days in WDW*

[dismagiclover]

So I keep checking my mail and my invite has yet to arrive. Must be lost in the mail Everything looks fabulous!

 

[kschafer]

Wowser! You put my parties to shame!!

I'm excited for the party pictures

 

[tmk0730]

Hello! I just found your pre-trip report and I'm hooked! I've read every page! I must say that I'm slightly in awe of you. You are so on top of things! Usually the week before a trip I'm scrambling around getting everything we need, and your kids parties are out of this world! Anyway you must be getting so excited the trip is getting close! I'm looking forward to following the rest of your journey.

 

[cdotla]

Wow, that party sounds very cool! I am so impressed with your creativity!

Thanks! I am really having fun with it...I just wish I had more time!

Hi I've been reading along for a wee while now and just wanted to say I love all your plans/pictures for both trip and party.
At the risk of sounding really daft can I just ask what pink velvet tastes like(or is it just the colour of icing)?

I'm not from the U.S (what a surprise) and I was just wondering someone else mentioned red velvet cupcakes in their trip report and I just assumed it referred to the colour but now I'm thinking maybe it's a flavour).
Anyway just curious

Hi there and Welcome!!!

I am glad your curiousity on the red velvet brought you out of lurkerdom. It is nice know that you actually have some readers!

Red velvet is indeed a cake flavour. In fact, it is one of my favourites. It is red in color (surprise, surprise), but I am not exactly sure how to describe the flavour. Maybe someone else can help out! Usually it is paired with cream cheese icing. It is totally delish!

I have never actually heard of "Pink" Velvet before, but my baker found a recipe for it. I hope it actually tastes identical to red velvet (which I love), just a pink color instead of red. I will let you know how it turns out!

Trish - I'm so glad that you live North of the Border....in the NORTHERN Hemisphere. Your touches and attention to detail are AMAZING....and you do know that if you were living in the Southern Hemisphere, I would sooo hate you . This way, I don't feel inadequate .
Really..if you were ever to move DownUnder, I would employ you to be my personal shopper.

BTW - That French Toast press is great. Where can I get one?

Awww...thanks! I really do love this type of stuff! Very different from my day job, which is why it is a great way to relax!

As for the French toast press, you can find a retailer here: http://www.worldwidefred.com/shoponline.htm

I think the prices range from $3-5.

Ok, can I just say that I absolutely love that you did the invitations in French, what a great touch! And your loot bag purchases are great too, very creative

I can't wait to see that cake!!!

Thanks! I am still working to complete the loot bags and a bunch of other odds and ends for the party...I will share those once I get them ready!

Ok, all I have to say is...CAN I COME?

Seriously, it looks awesome! Everyone is going to have a great time!

Thanks so much! I am looking forward to it!

The party plans look awesome! I love that French bread press - how cute! The French theme is such a cute idea! Can't wait to see pictures of the Eifel Tower Cake!!!

Sara

Thanks Sara! I will definitely share photos of the cake...crossing my fingers it turns out nice!

All caught up here again. Love all the cute clothes for you and the kids. You guys will be the best dressed in WDW for sure!

Katie's party looks like so much fun. Can't wait to see the pictures of the event.

Thanks Michelle! I will definitely share the photos. Still a ton of work left to do!

 

[cdotla]

So I keep checking my mail and my invite has yet to arrive. Must be lost in the mail Everything looks fabulous!

Too funny!

Wowser! You put my parties to shame!!

I'm excited for the party pictures

You won't have to wait long! I don't know about you, but I find these last days before our trips are speeding right by! Just 3 more days!

Hello! I just found your pre-trip report and I'm hooked! I've read every page! I must say that I'm slightly in awe of you. You are so on top of things! Usually the week before a trip I'm scrambling around getting everything we need, and your kids parties are out of this world! Anyway you must be getting so excited the trip is getting close! I'm looking forward to following the rest of your journey.

Thanks so much for posting and welcome!!!

First - let me just say that I am so NOT on top of things!!! My dining room table looks like I should be on the show Hoarders! I have apothecary jars, candy, loot bags, chinese take-out boxes, ribbons, hairbands, french toast presses, bookmarkers, serving trays, cardstock, blindfolds, ect. all littering my dining room table. And it has been like that since the weekend.

And don't even get me started on the state of my office, or the miles of clothes waiting to be washed, ironed and packed piled up on the chaise in my bedroom!

No - I am not exactly in good shape at this point. But it will all have to be done by Saturday!

Thanks again for posting, and I hope you stick around!

 

[cdotla]

Trip down Memory Lane...

Can you remember your first trip to Disney? I sure can!

It was 1977 and I was just 4 years old. My mother, father, grandmother and I left my 1 year old brother at home with my grandparents and took off with my best friend and her family (who lived 2 doors down from us) for everyone's first ever trip to Walt Disney World.

While much of the trip I can't remember, there are parts that are surprisingly clear.

Our friends left a couple days before us to drive down. We flew and by the time we arrived, and drove onto the grounds of the Polynesian Resort for the very first time, our friends were already relaxing and waiting for us at the bar with drinks in hand.

Up until recently, I had only ever stayed at the Polynesian once - on this very first trip back in 1977. But all these years later, I still have so many memories of the Polynesian from this trip. I remember the room decor, the smell and sounds of the lobby, and the sight of my best friend's father raising a tropical looking drink in our direction, greeting us when we walked into the resort for the very first time.

I can't be 100% sure, but I believe this photo was taken of me, my mom, and grandmother in the Polynesian parking lot:

And here I am with our waiter in one of our favourite places at the Poly. You can see, our families indulged in a lot of tropical drinks on this trip!

Here is my mom and dad on the right, followed by my best friend's mother. On the left is my best friend's brother, my best friend, and me (although I am basically not visible in this photo):

Here is my mom and grandmother in the back. Notice what my best friend's mom is holding in her hand? Ahhh....the good old 70's!

Surprisingly, while I remember a fair bit about the Polynesian, I have very little memory, if any, of our time in the Parks on that first trip. But here are some photos:

Meeting Mickey with my Dad and grandmother:

Meeting Pluto with my grandmother:

Another character greeting with my mom...what is this guy's name again?
I know he is from Pinocchio.

On Peter Pan with my Dad:

And Cinderella's Golden Carrousel with my Mom:

And here's me and my best friend swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

Those are great flashback pictures! Times have changed, but Disney still is a place for great memories! Love all the 70's hair and clothes. I have a few shots of me growing up that look eerily similar

 

[SoonerGirl]

Great pics! I wish I had some from that far back, but I never went as a kid. Isn't it strange what we remember from our childhood? You would think that the parks would hold the special memories for you, but it was the resort that stuck in your mind - you guys must have had a blast there!

The character from Pinocchio is Honest John, or Foulfellow - he has two names

I can't believe you were swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon!

 

[swwake]

How fun to look at those pictures! Can you still swim in the lagoon, or will the amoebas get you?

 

[JoShan1719]

How fun to look at those pictures! Can you still swim in the lagoon, or will the amoebas get you?

Nope, no more swimming. Apparently they found a bacteria in there that can kill you? Confirmation anyone?

 

[klacey1]

Awww, I love reminiscing about first Disney trips! I was 8 on mine-- I'll never forget riding Space Mountain with my grandmother in the first car! Or going on the Tomorrowland Alien ride (can't remember the exact name).
Also, have you considered a career in professional party-planning? The invites are beautiful! And the favor bags are perfect-- not full of junk that a parent will just want to toss out. I want one of those JCrew headbands!! So adorable!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love your photos from the 70's trip-I had that, much coveted hair and fashion style too!!
Mind you my first trip to disney was at the ripe old age of 28 when my daughter was 4 and those photos look pretty dated too!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great pics from the 70's. Just think...in 40 years from now, your KIDS will be blogging on Dis and sharing their photos from way back when it was 2010!

 

[mom2mek]

Great pictures! I have very similar ones in my trip report from November 2007 where I did a walk down memory lane too, and so many are similar! Gotta love the 70's!

Sara

 

[kschafer]

How funny you remember so much about the Poly and very little about the parks

Love all the tropical drinks and way to go Grandma on rocking those short shorts!!

 

[goofygal531]

Nope, no more swimming. Apparently they found a bacteria in there that can kill you? Confirmation anyone?

Yes, that is true. It's also the reason why River Country closed.

Do you listen to the DIS podcast? Pete ends ever show by saying "Stay out of the d@mn lakes"

Tricia, love the pictures!! Now I completely understand why you had to re-do your DD's first trip. (I just read that report and you are not a bad parent for shopping with a sleeping child - that is the BEST time to shop! )

 

[swwake]

Do you listen to the DIS podcast? Pete ends ever show by saying "Stay out of the d@mn lakes"

That's where I heard it! Last week they did a podcast to be a permanent introduction to the podcast crew and he explained in detail why he says that. He said it's an amoeba. Ewwww

 

[cdotla]

Those are great flashback pictures! Times have changed, but Disney still is a place for great memories! Love all the 70's hair and clothes. I have a few shots of me growing up that look eerily similar

Yes, those old photos are fun, aren't they?

Great pics! I wish I had some from that far back, but I never went as a kid. Isn't it strange what we remember from our childhood? You would think that the parks would hold the special memories for you, but it was the resort that stuck in your mind - you guys must have had a blast there!

The character from Pinocchio is Honest John, or Foulfellow - he has two names

I can't believe you were swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon!

Yes, it is surprising that I can't remember much of the Magic Kingdom on my first visit, but I do remember the Poly! Perhaps that it why it remains my favourite resort at WDW.

Thanks for reminding me the name of that character. I still remember how he scared my mother to death. He came up behind her without warning!

And yes - shocking, but I have the proof that I swam in Seven Seas Lagoon. Although the photo doesn't show it, many others did as well. In fact, Disney encouraged it! There certainly weren't any signs advising people to stay out of the lakes!

How fun to look at those pictures! Can you still swim in the lagoon, or will the amoebas get you?

I wouldn't! If the amoebas don't get you the crocs might! You don't have to search too hard on the Dis to find photos people have posted of gators around the resorts and Seven Seas Lagoon!

Nope, no more swimming. Apparently they found a bacteria in there that can kill you? Confirmation anyone?

Yes! It is true.

Awww, I love reminiscing about first Disney trips! I was 8 on mine-- I'll never forget riding Space Mountain with my grandmother in the first car! Or going on the Tomorrowland Alien ride (can't remember the exact name).
Also, have you considered a career in professional party-planning? The invites are beautiful! And the favor bags are perfect-- not full of junk that a parent will just want to toss out. I want one of those JCrew headbands!! So adorable!

If my day job ever comes to an end, party planning might just be a good option for me!

Fun remembering those old trips, isn't it?

Love your photos from the 70's trip-I had that, much coveted hair and fashion style too!!
Mind you my first trip to disney was at the ripe old age of 28 when my daughter was 4 and those photos look pretty dated too!

Yes, it is very funny looking back at old clothing and hairstyles!

Great pics from the 70's. Just think...in 40 years from now, your KIDS will be blogging on Dis and sharing their photos from way back when it was 2010!

Gosh...that's a scary thought! Maybe by then I will have finally caught up with my scrapbooking!

Great pictures! I have very similar ones in my trip report from November 2007 where I did a walk down memory lane too, and so many are similar! Gotta love the 70's!

Yeah...the 70's were an interesting decade, that's for sure.

Between swimming in the Disney lakes, smoking in restaurants, not wearing seatbelts, ect...it is a surprise any of us survived it!

How funny you remember so much about the Poly and very little about the parks

Love all the tropical drinks and way to go Grandma on rocking those short shorts!!

Yes, I would say the Poly definitely made an impression on me, that is for sure!!!

And you are right about my grandmother's shorts - those *were* short, weren't they??!!!

Funny thing is - she really hasn't changed a whole lot. Here she is from last year:

Yes, that is true. It's also the reason why River Country closed.

Do you listen to the DIS podcast? Pete ends ever show by saying "Stay out of the d@mn lakes"

Tricia, love the pictures!! Now I completely understand why you had to re-do your DD's first trip. (I just read that report and you are not a bad parent for shopping with a sleeping child - that is the BEST time to shop! )

Yeah...that Mommy-Daughter trip will always hold a special place in my heart. It remains my favourite of all of my WDW trips. If there could ever be a silver lining in the loss of all of my photos of my kids' 1st ever trip to WDW, it was the special memories I have from the "redo" trip a few months later.

 

[kaysmommie]

Hi Trish,
I loved your trip down memory lane. The pics of you and your family are so cute! The characters looks sort of weird don't they? They look like that in my pics from 1979 too . I'm loving those retro Poly pictures too. At least you stayed at Poly on your first trip, we camped at FW that was before the cabins and I'm so not a camper. I remember swimming in the lakes at Disney too. Also great clothes you posted from J Crew. I would love to buy one of those dresses for summer. Looking forward to hearing all about Katie's party.

 

[cdotla]

Hi Trish,
I loved your trip down memory lane. The pics of you and your family are so cute! The characters looks sort of weird don't they? They look like that in my pics from 1979 too . I'm loving those retro Poly pictures too. At least you stayed at Poly on your first trip, we camped at FW that was before the cabins and I'm so not a camper. I remember swimming in the lakes at Disney too. Also great clothes you posted from J Crew. I would love to buy one of those dresses for summer. Looking forward to hearing all about Katie's party.

Thanks Nichole!!! I actually found all these photos last year when I spent a couple hours digging through my parent's old albums! More coming up!