Prelude to a WDW Dream...Sept. 08 *NEW 9/9 Post 350*

[Illini4ever]

I told dh that if we somehow won, earned, inherited, or otherwise came into an unexpected million dollars before our trip that I was going to have Capt. Jack! Short of that, it's not gonna happen. I bet you would be surprised what you could convince your husband of. If you go to the Grand Floridian and go to the house phone over near the pool, you could order off of the private dining menu and have them deliver it to the pool area and then carry it over on to the sand and enjoy a special meal as a family on the shores of the lake. AHHHH....that is a blissful idea. Then you could plan out your own treasure hunt and end up at the Grand 1 yacht (if you wanted to go nuts on one portion of the day), a pontoon boat or even just the GF dock to catch a ferry to the Magic Kingdom or the Poly. Ahhh...what a special day. And done on a budget too! Although, I will admit, it gets pretty pricey to order private dining at the GF. But think of it this way, it's no more then a sit down dinner and although you are not in a restaurant, it would be a special meal in a whole different sort of a way.

I think I'm going to have to start a journal with all your great ideas because I would seriously never think of anything like that on my own. You have such wonderful ideas! I think we're going next summer so I'll definitely be taking some serious notes from your reports. You're awesome!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Someone might have answered you already here too, but I think that was Ronald Duck. Not 100% sure though...that was an AMAZING trip! I was crying while reading a lot of it!!

Just finished the rest of the trip and ya'll already figured out who it was - AKL Goofy. Too bad his site is down!

I know he had a limo waiting for pick up at the airport, along with flowers for his DW at every meal. Those two things alone made me


He also had special treats for her in the room each day...Jay you are a pro at that! Hmmm...trying to remember what else he did...


Anyway, your party on the beach sounds AWESOME! Your menu looks delicious to me, I'm sure the chef won't think it's strange at all-the perfect cookout menu. I can't wait to read about the details of this!

Also, thank you for the tip about reading the Bridal boards for ideas! That's smart!

 

[jaycns]

Mmmm, your menu looks great! I just love your character idea, even if you can't get your number one choice! What a dream day that one will be. And dessert on a yacht that is taking you to the Magic Kingdom for the P&PP....... ....sounds PERFECT. I can't think of anything better than that! Looking forward to more updates from you.

Awww...THANKS! I know that no matter what character visit we end up having the day will be beyond wonderful! Give your mom a hug for me and let her know I am still praying for her.

WOW that sounds like a fabulous feast!!!! Mmmmmm mmmmm good as they say. You really know how to throw a party. I cant wait to see how it all plays out! Great update.

Disney really is the one who knows how to throw a party. I am just going with the flow of their creativity! I am so excited to live that day!

I just started your PTR, so you might already have this info (don't have time to read past this right now!), or you might have decided on something, but Disney does have a comedy club at Pleasure Island. And, I saw Blue Man Group when I lived in NYC-it's hilarious!!!!! I was laughing so hard at the end, I was delerious. Awesome, awesome show!

So you would recommend the Blue Man Group then I guess? ha ha ha. I am seriously still thinking of that for the "end cap" of our anniversary celebration night.

Someone might have answered you already here too, but I think that was Ronald Duck. Not 100% sure though...that was an AMAZING trip! I was crying while reading a lot of it!!

That must have been some trip. SO many people remember his trip with his wife so long after they took it. He must have really done it up right!!

I think I'm going to have to start a journal with all your great ideas because I would seriously never think of anything like that on my own. You have such wonderful ideas! I think we're going next summer so I'll definitely be taking some serious notes from your reports. You're awesome!

Ha, I wish I was as full of money and vacation days as I was of ideas. I do so love vacation planning! I am glad you stuck around! Congrats on the upcoming trip! You should start your own pretrip report when you are ready to start in on planning everything!

Just finished the rest of the trip and ya'll already figured out who it was - AKL Goofy. Too bad his site is down!

I know he had a limo waiting for pick up at the airport, along with flowers for his DW at every meal. Those two things alone made me


He also had special treats for her in the room each day...Jay you are a pro at that! Hmmm...trying to remember what else he did...


Anyway, your party on the beach sounds AWESOME! Your menu looks delicious to me, I'm sure the chef won't think it's strange at all-the perfect cookout menu. I can't wait to read about the details of this!

Also, thank you for the tip about reading the Bridal boards for ideas! That's smart!

Thanks for taking the time to try and point me in the right direction for finding him. If you do happen to remember any more special twists he threw in...I would love to hear about them!

And I hope you are right, that the chef won't think it's very strange. I guess we just have pretty simple tastes when it comes right down to it.

 

[jaycns]

I just had to share one of the proofs from our Little Prince's first professional photo shoot!

I love this picture!!! Sorry for being way off topic. I just couldn't resist sharing his first "real" picture!

I will post the next day's plans tomorrow. Thanks for letting me share!

 

[Figment's Friend]

Awww, he is so handsome! Those eyes are just precious! He's just darling.

And thanks about my Mom, it means so much....

 

[Squidrific]

What follows is our menu wish list as I typed it up and sent it to the planner to have her forward to the chef. He will take a look at it, tweak it, price it out and then get back to us with his suggestions, deletions, additions. I told them we were very open to suggestion. It's not every day I have a chef willing to work with me to set a menu for a party. SO...I am going to take his sage advice when it is offered.


Grilled steak (open for suggestions as to what kind of steak/the flavoring)
Grilled hot dogs (our boys are true hot dog fanatics), buns, ketchup, mustard
Grilled corn on the cob
Grilled vegetable skewers (mushrooms and red onions are a must, open as far as in what else the chef would suggest would work well)
Grilled shrimp OR peel and eat shrimp if the chef feels that would be a better menu choice
Cold fried chicken (if the chef feels this would work with the other menu items)
Cole slaw (whatever kind the chef would suggest)
Pasta salad (some sort of Italian flavor with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, black olives...or again, if the chef has a different suggestion we are willing to trust his judgment)
Potato salad (open to suggestions of what type)
Green beans (open as to what the chef would suggest doing with them)
Cornbread and butter
Watermelon
Fresh squeezed lemonade
Southern style sweet tea (with sugar added before it cools and not from a fountain)

I also asked that the chef (if at all possible) think up some ways to add magical touches to the menu. For instance, I saw a picture on the bridal planning threads of a dinner where the watermelon pieces were cut into the shape of Mickey heads. Stuff like that. I let the chef know that our entire party would be really into any and all touches he could dream up and that overkill would not be a problem. I figure the mom of the other family, all of the kids and myself would LOVE every Disney touch possible. So dh and the dad of the other family can just deal with it and enjoy the good food. Actually, I really think they will enjoy the little Disney touches as well, they just won't be likely to ever admit it. I am sure they would think that they are too cool for that.

I am so excited to hear back from the chef!! Hopefully I will hear something by the end of next week!

Jay this sounds terrific. What time should I be there again???

I just had to share one of the proofs from our Little Prince's first professional photo shoot!

I love this picture!!! Sorry for being way off topic. I just couldn't resist sharing his first "real" picture!

I will post the next day's plans tomorrow. Thanks for letting me share!

Jay he's absolutely beautiful. All the bedrest and everything you went through last year was so worth it. What a doll!

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Oh Jay he is so gorgeous no wonder you're all totally in love with him. If he is half as well behaved as he is cute you've lucked out big time

 

[momoftriplets]

What a sweet boy, Jay. Too cute for words.

 

[disneydusted]

You new little Prince is adorable! Looks like he will be a charmer!

 

[jaycns]

Awww, he is so handsome! Those eyes are just precious! He's just darling.

And thanks about my Mom, it means so much....

The only thanks I want as far as your mom goes is a GREAT report after "the big smoosh". Great big hugs to you too. It cannot be easy on you either. I bet you are both looking forward to your next WDW trip! Enjoy the planning!!

And THANK YOU for those sweet words about the Little Prince. We are sort of fond of him too.

Jay this sounds terrific. What time should I be there again???




Jay he's absolutely beautiful. All the bed rest and everything you went through last year was so worth it. What a doll!

Just show on up any old time. You are welcome to drop in at your leisure. Bring Squidlet with ya.

And yes, I think even the endless hours of bed rest, the dangers, the aches, the pains, missing out on FOUR *yes, sadly that is FOUR* WDW trips...it was all SO worth it!!

Oh Jay he is so gorgeous no wonder you're all totally in love with him. If he is half as well behaved as he is cute you've lucked out big time

I hope he is well behaved. Either that or I am going to go stark white haired a whole lot sooner then expected! We are all so totally in love with him. He has all five of us wrapped around his tiny little fingers. I cannot believe i, but the boys are still debating who gets to hold him first. I thought that the novelty of the new baby would have worn off long ago. I think it may have gone from that to true brotherly love. Sometimes I look at the four boys together and just about cry happy tears. I really am blessed!! And I cannot wait to take them to WDW!!

What a sweet boy, Jay. Too cute for words.

Barb, you are too sweet for words! Thanks!

Day 7 coming right up!

 

[jaycns]

D-O-W-N--T-I-M-E!!!!

A lesson learned out of necessity on our last vacation (when I was pregnant with a high risk pregnancy and HAD to slow down quite a bit) was that down time is a precious commodity. While we won't have over two full weeks here this year, we will have just over one...so I made sure to schedule in a day to do nothing at all.

That day, will be our seventh day. The plan will be to have no plan at all!

Our list of possibilities for the day includes-

-hanging out at the resort, swimming & enjoying the WL

-playing miniature golf (we want to hit the Summerland side this year as we did the Winterland side last year)

-going to see a resort we have never seen before

-going to a water park *maybe even the new Sea World one*

-head over to Fort Wilderness

-???


The only plan we have made for the entire day is to go to dinner at the California Grill. YUM and AHHHH! We love this place. After an early dinner we are going to head down to the Contemporary's arcade (best on property). After that we will head back to the WL to enjoy the rest of the evening.

A perfectly EMPTY day in our schedule open to doing just about anything or nothing at all. Ahhh...what a wonderful day this will be!

 

[John's Mom]

Jay, your Little Prince is so adorable!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I love the picture of your Little Prince!!!! He is so handsome, so precious, so sweet! That picture just melts your heart...it's so innocent and pure-I can almost smell that wonderful baby smell just by looking at it!

Downtime, ah yes, a very good thing-esp with a little one! We have a "no plans" day in our schedule as well. Miniture Golf and Fort Wilderness are also on the list!

 

[momrek06]

I just had to share one of the proofs from our Little Prince's first professional photo shoot!

I love this picture!!!

JAY, JAY, YOUR BABY IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

 

[Figment's Friend]

No better place to do nothing than doing it at Disney World
I love that you're staying at the Wilderness Lodge. That is my favorite themed Disney resort, though we haven't stayed there just yet! You be sure and post LOTS of pictures of it!
This day sounds like fun! Can't wait to hear more.

 

[starrzone]

Oh, the Little Prince is SO adorable! He is going to break some hearts when he gets older!

Your "downtime" day sounds just perfect. Our everyday lives are so very busy; it's nice to be able to have a list of things you may want to do, and if they get done, fine! If not, oh well! I like the idea of mini golf; this is an activity that my family and I LOVE doing together. There is a mini golf course near my cottage, and my brothers and I have all played since we were very young. My youngest brother started LITERALLY as soon as he could walk; I have the most adorable picture of him the summer he turned two, toddling around with his white leather shoes, holding a tiny golf club and ball with the most intense look of concentration you've ever seen. Ahhh, those memories are SO precious; have fun enjoying your boys!

Here's a pic of the 3 of us taken exactly a year ago; I don't know what on earth the older brother is looking at! The "baby" has grown a lot since that time and is now the tallest of the 3 of us.

 

[Illini4ever]

Oh my gosh, the baby is so beautiful! I miss that age where I could hold my babies and snuggle with them. Now my oldest "baby" is turning 11 and it almost makes me want to cry. They are growing up way too fast!

Day 7 sounds great! I wish we would have planned more "downtime" in our last trip, so I think it sounds great just relaxing and enjoying the day.

 

[buffy0214]

A perfectly EMPTY day in our schedule open to doing just about anything or nothing at all. Ahhh...what a wonderful day this will be!

A day with no schedule Sounds awesome

 

[jaycns]

Jay, your Little Prince is so adorable!

Thank you!

I love the picture of your Little Prince!!!! He is so handsome, so precious, so sweet! That picture just melts your heart...it's so innocent and pure-I can almost smell that wonderful baby smell just by looking at it!

Downtime, ah yes, a very good thing-esp with a little one! We have a "no plans" day in our schedule as well. Miniture Golf and Fort Wilderness are also on the list!

Baby smell!! Is it not the best smell on earth! Ahhh!! Have you done any looking into all that is available at Fort Wilderness? If so, I would love to hear some of your findings.

JAY, JAY, YOUR BABY IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

Awww Kar, THANKS! He is such a good little guy. I couldn't ask for a sweeter baby. He's healthy, happy and oh so cuddly. In just three short months, I cannot imagine our lives without him!

No better place to do nothing than doing it at Disney World
I love that you're staying at the Wilderness Lodge. That is my favorite themed Disney resort, though we haven't stayed there just yet! You be sure and post LOTS of pictures of it!
This day sounds like fun! Can't wait to hear more.

I promise loads of pictures! I am hoping it turns out to be one of our family favorites too!

Oh, the Little Prince is SO adorable! He is going to break some hearts when he gets older!

Your "downtime" day sounds just perfect. Our everyday lives are so very busy; it's nice to be able to have a list of things you may want to do, and if they get done, fine! If not, oh well! I like the idea of mini golf; this is an activity that my family and I LOVE doing together. There is a mini golf course near my cottage, and my brothers and I have all played since we were very young. My youngest brother started LITERALLY as soon as he could walk; I have the most adorable picture of him the summer he turned two, toddling around with his white leather shoes, holding a tiny golf club and ball with the most intense look of concentration you've ever seen. Ahhh, those memories are SO precious; have fun enjoying your boys!

Here's a pic of the 3 of us taken exactly a year ago; I don't know what on earth the older brother is looking at! The "baby" has grown a lot since that time and is now the tallest of the 3 of us.

You three sure do make for a handsome picture! And HA HA HA that 'baby brother' of yours doesn't look anything like a baby anymore! How tall is he now?

I hope our boys have the same sort of sweet memories together that you and your brothers have. That close bond with each other is one of my top wishes for our boys. Thanks for sharing such a precious memory....the white shoes...awww.

Oh my gosh, the baby is so beautiful! I miss that age where I could hold my babies and snuggle with them. Now my oldest "baby" is turning 11 and it almost makes me want to cry. They are growing up way too fast!

Day 7 sounds great! I wish we would have planned more "downtime" in our last trip, so I think it sounds great just relaxing and enjoying the day.

My oldest baby is going to be turning TWELVE soon. I wish I could hit a pause button and have him stay right where he is for a little bit longer. I know I will enjoy them at every age, but there is something about the sweet childhood years that I know I will always miss.

YES to days of downtime!! **It's good for the budget too. ** Disney has fun permeating throughout the resorts, DTD, the water parks, the golf courses...everywhere. A day planned to just be able to pick and chose as much or as little of what Disney has to offer as you want is a perfect way to spend a relaxing day. Some of our best days of our last vacation were blissfully full of downtime!

A day with no schedule Sounds awesome

Am I crazy that I find a day of "nothing" as appealing as a day at the parks?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

OMG Jay the little prince is sooooo cute!!!! Your down day sounds great. We are having one of those too this year. Go over and check out BWI or BC we actually love that area. But we too want to try new places and that is why we have been resort switching. I cant wait to hear what resorts you visit.