Jaclyn & Chris’ Engagement Trip Report ~ Updated 01/03

[Belle_373]

Welcome to my very first trip report!

This was a trip of a lifetime and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to write a trip report. My boyfriend of 6 years proposed to me at my favorite place in the world…Disney World! Here is a report of our two week trip to the world and of a trip I will never forget.

Cast of Characters:

Jaclyn, 23 & Chris, 26

This was our 7th trip to the world together. Our favorite time to go is in September. What can better than free dining, low crowds & MNNSHP? This trip we actually didn't get free dining because we had a 40% off pin code, Annual Passes & a Tables in Wonderland Card from a previous trip.

Our Dates:

Saturday, September 12th, 2009 – Saturday, September 26, 2009

Our Resorts:

The first seven nights we stayed at Corondo Springs Resort.

The last seven nights we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside.

Table of Contents:

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Traveling to Disney World!
Evening at Epcot

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Proposal Story
The Hunt for the Perfect Flip Flops
California Grill and Magic Kingdom

Monday, September 14, 2009
Morning at Epcot & Lunch at Le Cellier
Evening at Epcot & Dinner at Flying Fish Cafe

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Animal Kingdom, DTD & EPCOT

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Blizzard Beach & Magic Kingdom

Thursday, September 17, 2009
Morning at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Happy Birthday Chris!
STAR WARS MANIA!
DHS, CSR, and a Surprise!
Wandering AKL & Dinner at Jiko

Friday, September 18, 2009
Keys to the Kingdom Tour
A Lazy Evening--Beaches and Cream & Epcot

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Moving to Port Orleans Riverside & DTD

 

[praisehisname]

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to read the whole story!

Denise

 

[thumperbelle3]

Congrats! I got engaged this year too!

I can't wait to hear about your trip...you stayed at 2 of my favorite resorts!
2 weeks in WDW! That's awesome!

 

[WriteDisney]

Congrats!! I got engaged in MK on 9/17!! I'm going to subscribe to follow along

 

[honeymooner09]

Congrats!! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

 

[KatMark]

I'm signed up for yoru food report and now also your trip report.

 

[Belle_373]

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to read the whole story!

Denise

Thank you!

Congrats! I got engaged this year too!

I can't wait to hear about your trip...you stayed at 2 of my favorite resorts!
2 weeks in WDW! That's awesome!

Congratulations on your engagement!

Congrats!! I got engaged in MK on 9/17!! I'm going to subscribe to follow along

Congratulations! The MK is a great placed to get engaged.

Congrats!! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Thanks!

I'm signed up for yoru food report and now also your trip report.

Thanks for following me over to my TR!

 

[Belle_373]

Today I woke up at 5:45am, got ready, and then finished packing up my last minute toiletries. At 7:45am I left to go pick up my DB who lives about 10 minutes away. We went to Starbucks & Tim Horton’s to pick up breakfast. I hate to admit it and I maybe one of the only Canadian’s to say this but I prefer a Starbucks Latte to a Tim Horton’s coffee. I think it's because of all those years I spent working in retail drinking 2-3 coffees every shift. So I grabbed my breakfast from Starbucks and then picked up a coffee for my dad at Tim Horton’s. My parent’s were nice enough to volunteer to drive Chris and I down to the Buffalo Airport, thus saving us $150 in parking fees. It’s a lot cheaper for us to drive down to Buffalo than to fly out of Toronto.

We departed for Buffalo at 8:45am for our 1:50pm flight. As you can see I gave us a lot of extra time to get to the airport. I am always paranoid that I will miss our flight so I always create of buffer of time in case something happens, for example, we get stuck at the border, we get lost, we forgot something and have to go back, etc.

We arrived at the Lewiston Peace Bridge at about 9:45am and we crossed the border very quickly as there was only a few people ahead of us. At around 10:30am we arrived at Cracker Barrel. Chris and I always eat at Cracker Barrel before our trips to Disney as they don’t have any Cracker Barrel's in Canada. We both got eggs in a basket and it was delicious! The perfect way to start a vacation is with lots of grease.

After breakfast my parents drove us to the airport and we said our good byes. We checked in at the Southwest counter at around 11:45am. At around 1:30pm we began to board the plane and departed on time at 1:50pm. We landed in MCO at around 4:25pm. We walked over to Magical Express and boarded our bus fairly quickly.

We arrived at Corondo Springs at around 5:45pm and checked in. We were given room # 3154 in the Casitas section.

Here are some pictures of our recently refurbished room:

I loved these lights. They slowly got brighter and brighter so you don't get shocked by the light when your turn them on in the morning.

After we unpacked our clothes and got settled in our room we got ready for our night at Epcot!

Up Next: Evening at Epcot

 

[praisehisname]

Yay for an uneventful trip down! Your room looks nice. Can't wait to hear about Epcot!

Denise

 

[WriteDisney]

The room looks really nice!!

 

[KatMark]

I loved that about the lights in the bathroom as well (we've stayed CSR eight times and this was the first time we had the renovated room). Great about your flight being on time...to me that always sets the tone for our vacation.

 

[Belle_373]

After we unpacked and got settled in our room we got ready to head to Epcot. By 6:30pm we were waiting at the bus stop.

Nope…not our bus.

Once the Epcot bus arrived we had the entire bus to ourselves.

Ooooh! D23!

We got to Epcot around 7:00pm. My first objective was to head to the Mexico and get my first margarita of the trip. Then we headed to the UK for our dinner at the Rose and Crown. We had an ADR at 7:40pm.

We were seated on the patio with a great view for Illuminations.

Cheese Buns & butter.

I ordered a Snake Bite, Harp & Cider.

We shared a bowl of potato and leek soup.

I had the Fish & Chips.

Chris ordered the Bangers & Mash.

We were too full to order dessert so we just sat and waited for Illuminations, which was starting in a couple minutes. Before Illuminations began this little girl beside us had given her waitress a glow bracelet. The waitress was so touched she asked if the little girl would like to start Illuminations. The waitress brought her down to the lower level of the patio and gave her a magical wand. Right before Illuminations was about to start she told the little girl to wave her wand at the World Showcase Lagoon. After she waved her wand Illuminations started.

She also gave this little girl the magical wand to keep and a Magical Moment’s Certificate. These moments are one of the reasons why I continue to go back to Disney World.

After Illuminations ended we headed out of the park and were back at the room by 10pm. We got ready for bed and for our first full day in Disney World!

Up Next: Morning at the Magic Kingdom & Proposal Story

 

[praisehisname]

Score on the patio table so you could watch Illuminations!!! Your dinner looked yummy!

Denise

 

[Belle_373]

This morning Chris and I woke up bright and early, we had breakfast ADR at Kona Café for 7:40am. Breakfast at Kona Café is a must do for us on our first day in Disney. We were running a little late because we missed this first bus to the Magic Kingdom so we didn’t arrive until 8:00am.

I ordered the Fruit Plate & coffee.

Chris ordered the Big Kahuna & coffee.

After breakfast Chris asked me to take a walk with him. I didn’t think any thing was weird at the time as we have walked along the beach at the Polynesian many times during past trips. We sat down on a swing bench on the quiet beach at the Polynesian with the castle in the background and the Wedding Pavilion beside us. Chris took me in his arms and told me he couldn’t image spending his life with anyone else and he pulled out a ring from his pocket and asked me to marry him and I said yes. I am a very emotional person to begin with so let just say after he proposed I was bawling. Chris was so concerned that I was unhappy with the proposal. I told him they were happy tears.

The ring:

We sat on the bench for awhile and then I asked Chris what time it was. He said “Oh no! We missed rope drop! It’s 9:15am.” I laughed and said “Its ok I think getting engaged takes precedent over MK rope drop.”

After sitting for a few minutes we thought it would be nice to walk over to the Grand Floridian and get our “Just Engaged” pins.

We’re planning on having our ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion on Monday, October 3, 2011.

We went to concierge and pick up our buttons and we received our first congratulations!

Once we arrived at the Grand Floridian we browsed the lower level gift shop. There was a section of the gift shop dedicated to Disney Fairy Tale Weddings. They had some of David Tutera products on display. I saw the official Disney Fairy Tale Weddings CD and I got very excited! I was so tempted to buy it until I saw the price, $18.98 US. I figured I'd check out iTunes first to see if I could get if for cheaper. I’m so glad I didn’t buy the CD right then and there. It ended up only costing $ 9.99 Can on iTunes.

Afterwards we hopped on the monorail and headed to the Magic Kingdom. We took some PhotoPass pictures in front of the train station.

I love the fall decorations at the Magic Kingdom.

We went into the Chapeau and I got a set of Minnie Bridal Ears.

I can’t wait to wear them for my wedding rehearsal and on my honeymoon!

Ahh Cinderella’s Castle! What a beautiful sight!

Up Next: The Hunt for the Perfect Flip Flops

 

[KatMark]

Jaclyn, I love the photopass pictures. They are terrific.

 

[AZMyers]

Congratulations!!

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. Great pics!

 

[Princess.Neve]

Great pictures so far and congratulations on your engagement! What a wonderful place to be after such a precious and unforgettable moment.

 

[praisehisname]

How romantic! I love the photopass pictures, too!

Denise

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Joining in! What a sweet proposal story Congratulations and I can't wait for more!

 

[Belle_373]

Jaclyn, I love the photopass pictures. They are terrific.

Congratulations!!

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. Great pics!

How romantic! I love the photopass pictures, too!

Denise

Joining in! What a sweet proposal story Congratulations and I can't wait for more!

Thank You!