Keys to the Kingdom/The trip of a lifetime!

[Vickie46]

can't wait to hear more!

 

[princess@heart]

Wow!!! I cried when I saw the video! That is so awesome!

You know, I think even though all of us will never get to wil a vacation to WDW, we still have all the magic! It's still just as special to me!

Thanks for sharing your report! Can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[Queenie]

This is the most incredible trip report ever! I too am in tears reading about everything... a caroussel full of characters? Jack Sparrow walking you through Pirates?? It's just a dream come true, every word! You don't need to be told but you really are so lucky!

 

[Kimberly815]

I am so happy that you and your family had such a magical time! Thanks for letting all of us share in that wonderful trip through your story and photos.

 

[OhioTony]

To the Dis-Board GODS...you MUST remove the "Earning my ears" tag from Minnierocks and bump her up to
"DIS-FREAKING-MASTER"
Can I get an AMEN from the congregation!!!

I'm so glad a worthy family recieved this honor and your trip report has me furiously researching our next family trip to the promised land!!!

Keep feeding us those spoonfulls of Disney "Goodness"!

 

[Kimberly815]

To the Dis-Board GODS...you MUST remove the "Earning my ears" tag from Minnierocks and bump her up to
"DIS-FREAKING-MASTER"
Can I get an AMEN from the congregation!!!

I'm so glad a worthy family recieved this honor and your trip report has me furiously researching our next family trip to the promised land!!!

Keep feeding us those spoonfulls of Disney "Goodness"!

I agree! Or at least change it to "The luckiest family during the year of a Million Dreams" or SOMETHING!!!

 

[mickeymousemom]

Yea...where's the Tag Fairy when you really need him(her)? Geez, c'mon. Give this woman a tag!

 

[LindaBabe]

MinnieRocks - YOU ROCK TOO! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I wept right along with the others. What an Amazing day!

 

[Snoopygirl]

Wow!! CONGRATS!! What an awesome report. Thank you so much for sharing it w/ all of us!

Can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[kaw1218]

Yea...where's the Tag Fairy when you really need him(her)? Geez, c'mon. Give this woman a tag!

I agree!

 

[Teay]

It has been so great reading your trip report as you go...thanks so much for sharing with all of us!

I've always been proud to work for the Mouse and knowing "we" picked such a wonderful family for such an honor---and then doing such a fantastic job of giving them the World---makes it even better!

Congratulations!
I'm so happy you're getting to truly live the magic!

 

[champagne27]

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible "dream" with us! It's so nice to see someone win and appreciate it. We appreciate your taking the time to write! I also got the "what is with you?" look from the hubby as I wiped tears from my eyes.

 

[Panotchr]

I read all the report last night and I cannot wait for another installment. I had tears during the video and I always hate to leave WDW. I am probably the worst of all of my family and that includes my girls that are only 6, 9 and 12! I think I drive them nuts talking about next summer already

 

[Hypermommy]

"DIS-FREAKING-MASTER"
Can I get an AMEN from the congregation!!!

Amen here!!!! Go in the database and bump her number of posts up to a million or something to equal her once in a million dream trip. Amen again!!!

 

[Gabkatt]

Amazing!!! I feel like we are experiencing this with you! I am so choked up right now...I can't wait to hear more! You have such a good looking family, I am so excited for you guys! Congrats!!!

 

[mississaugamom]

MinnieRocks ... thank you so much for your awesome trip report!!!!

I'm thrilled that such a wonderful family got to enjoy the Trip of A Lifetime and that you're sharing all the happy details with us!

Arlene

 

[VanniGirl]

How wonderful - thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!

I am looking forward to reading the rest

 

[minnierocks]

After lunch, we had about 4 or 5 hours to pretty much do whatever we wanted We went to Space Mountain and got to go into the tower and see how the ride worked! It was so crazy...as we were standing there some people were yelling..."It's the Spanglers!" and waving Everywhere we went, there were so many well wishers...it was just so much fun!!! We rode the "big white boat" as my kids call it and DD got to steer it. We rode Pooh, and saw Philharmagic (one of my personal favorites), we caught the afternoon show...

We shopped a little along Main St. DD got her hat autographed by Mickey...
One of the little things that Joey magically made happen...DS had expressed that he was interested in graphic design...He got to meet one of the graphic designers and the young man was so kind. He showed us some of the things that he had designed and let Derick look at his program. He also told him to pay attention in math and art because you really will need it someday!!! THANK YOU, JASON!!!

Another cool thing that Joey "made" happen...we had mentioned after chatting with the Dream Squad that it would be really awesome to watch a giveaway. So many wonderfull things had happened to us, we wanted to see the magic spread! It was so fun to see the looks on people's faces when they realized they had won something!!!

We were told that someone else wanted to meet us...we were taken to a small courtyard area to meet "Meg"... HELLO!? She's the president of Disney World and she wanted to greet us personally and welcome us!!! For us, this was very, very amazing and so much of what makes Disney...well, Disney! Her name tag was no different than anyone else's, there were no formalities...just a wonderfully, pleasant woman who was gracious enough to take time out her day, to make us feel welcome!


That's what made this week so special for us...it was the people!!! The visitors in the park who expressed their good wishes It was the CM's who got up so early to surprise us It was the servers, resort personnel, our tour guide, the people in the PR and the marketing department, the ones who put a lot of hours in working on this trip, the photographers and videographers who spent all day Wednesday at the park!!! So many people, so much time and so much effort and they were all so wonderful to spend time with! They made us feel welcome and special and pampered and I'll tell you for a family from the middle of nowhere (as DS puts it), we couldn't have been more grateful for the chance to live this dream!
What a journey...what a memory...

Oh by the way, did I mention that we were grand marshals for the afternoon parade?

 

[nealymouse]

WOW

 

[minnierocks]

We walked over to the parade staging area and met the man in charge of the parades...as was the case everyone...he was great! He gave each of us a very special pair of ears...the blue "Where Dreams Come True" ones (the ears lit up). He let us know that we would be riding along the parade route and would have the opportunity to wave at everyone...then we would be followed by a marching band. I assumed that meant that the afternoon parade would follow the band.

It was so much fun...we rode through and they were announcing our names and people were waving and cheering!

We get to the end and leave the vehicle and enter a little corner section that they had roped off for us. It was in the shade and they had been thoughtful enough to have some cold water for us. We're just standing there chatting and I realize that there is no "rest of the parade"!! The afternoon parade would come shortly, but that marching band was just for US!!! Incredible!!!

We tooled around and did some other things here and there...Buzz Lightyear, a little more shopping...the kids got to decorate their own Mickey rice krispy treat. Our dinner reservations were at 6:30-We were dining at Tony's Town Square. We've never dined there...and we were looking forward to it.

When it was time, we head to the restaurant. We're seated and everything on the menu looks fabulous! It was really hard for me to decide what to eat, but I order the spaghetti and meatballs. I am not disappointed-It was so good!

After dinner, they come out with a surprise!!! An unbirthday party-just for
us! It was just one thing after another all week and I was on sensory overload! It was a great meal!!!
Afterwards, we looked around in the gift shop...I was looking for the perfect keepsake-and I just hadn't found it yet! Time was running out!

When we were finished, we headed over to the Main St. station-that was our special viewing location for the night time parade and the fireworks! Disney had some more magic in store for us!

They had prepared a very special dessert for us. When we walked up the stairs and into the roped off area, there stood a chef (in full chef attire). He was standing in front of a linen draped table with the most beautiful tray of desserts that I had ever seen! There sitting on a cloud of blue spun sugar was Cinderella's castle crafted out of white chocolate! Surrounding the castle were perfectly scrumptious and gorgeous chocolate hazelnut thingies (I think that's the official term ), strawberries dipped in chocolate, and tiny fruit tarts!!! AMAZING!!! He took the time to welcome us and explain what he had prepared for us. Guess what? They were just for us!!!

As we are seated at our special table, there are drinks that were specially made for the occasion...

It was beautiful!!! The parade started and we were able to just enjoy the magic! Spending time on that balcony made me realize that life is too short to not enjoy every minute! No one is guaranteed a tomorrow and there are no "do-overs"...now is the time to live, laugh, and love!

As I watched the fireworks surrounded by those who are most precious to me in this world, I just wanted to take it all in! The sights, the sounds, and their laughter. How blessed I truly am! I am so thankful for them and all that I have! I believe there is a master plan for everything, so for whatever reason I was there at that time and that place...WOW! I am just so grateful for that opportunity!

Well, the evening came to end...
As we headed back to the resort, there was silence. Each one of us were still trying to take it all in...What an incredible day!!!