Steph and Tom's PJ!1/3/10-WP/WHR/AAP/ITALY-We won Best Love Story! Thanks for voting.

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

Yay!!!

 

[tiggersam00]

OK, I am totallllllly impatient, I need to hear all about it Steph!

 

[Stephie77]

you guys are so cute i was planning on doing it last night but ended up working really late. it has been crazy busy since i returned and even if you are out for 2 days, work piles up i am off friday, so i am hoping to have it all complete by then!

 

[Stephie77]

So I finally have the time to do my TR for my PS. And here we go...We don't have many pics the first day due to weather. I was hoping to make it through the first day at disney awake. I got home from work at 1:30 am on Thursday Morning after working a 17 hour day. Our flight from JFK was at 8 am Thursday morning. I decided not to go to sleep. So I finished packing for the trip and watched I am a celebrity...get me out of here. It was the last episode and was so excited the Mr. Labamba himself, Lou Diamond Phillips won. I ended up falling asleep for about 1/2 hour. I woke up at 4 am, showered, woke tom with his usual cup of coffee, he showered and we were on our way at 6 am. The ride to airport was only 20 mins, since we beat rush hour on the belt parkway. I sleepwalked through the airport and we finally borded our plane. I slept on the flight kind of-i never sleep good on planes-and finally we arrive at disney!!!: We ended up staying at the Buena Vista Palace which is a Disney hotel but not a disney resort. All I have to say is NEVER AGAIN. We are spoiled since we usually stay at a monorail resort and the transportation was so annoying. I think even staying at a Disney moderate or value resort, those buses come more frequently. Anyway, our friends from florida met us and picked us up from the airport. We get to the hotel and drop off our stuff. We then drove to Magic Kingdom!!! I was so excited to be back in Disney. Of course the first ride we go on is Pirates (tom's fav and we always do that ride as our first and last).

After that I was soooo hungry. I had not had anything to eat since 8 pm the night before(at this time it was about 2:30) so we stopped in for a bite to eat at Peco Bills. Typical counter food but at that point I did not care. As we finished, the parade started!! I took my friends' 7 year old niece out to see it. There was a disney bride and groom as grand marshalls which was so cool to see. After the parade we went looking for some characters since the 7 year old wanted to get autographs. We ended up seeing donald. So she and my friends 9 month old baby took pictures. We then walked around a bit. We went into City Hall to get some 1st visit buttons for the kids and when I come out TOm shows me his blackberry. Sure enough, TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson Died! I said that can't be true, its TMZ! Sure enough it was confirmed. I was so upset! Thriller was the first album I ever got (like most 32 yr olds i know) and my sister and i use to dance in our family room to the album and do the thriller dance. You know how they say you never forget where you were when someone died(like Kirk Cobain, i was in 6th period in HS and we left school to go mourn) here we were at the happiest place on earth for some of the saddest news At this point our friends decided to go back to the hotel, it was around 6pm and they were tired and had the baby. Tom and I stayed at MK. So we hit some rides and then the sky all of a sudden opened up. When I tell you it was raining, wow it was crazy with thunder and lightning. I figured since it is Florida it would pass. We decided to have some dinner and stay dry so we went to Cosmic Rays (yummy chicken fingers!). When we finished eatting, the rain let up a little so we went to have a cigarette and then it started again. We were standing under the track of the Transit Authority(which is closed due to the renevations at space mountain) and were staying some what dry. Well the thunder and lightning started again and we did not want to move. Then the winds started. It was crazy. so we huddled under the track for a long time. so upset i ruined my new coach sandals! we looked like drenched dogs. We were laughing the whole time and making the best of it! anyway, we made a run for the bathroom ( i had to go so bad!), when i got out tom had bought us the mickey ponchos (sorry no pics, rain was too hard). We then went on buzz light year which was sooo much fun. We watched wishes (which they still did even with the rain) and of course we ended the night with pirates. We then took the bus back to the hotel. As soon as we got to the hotel, I crashed since i had been up for almost 48 hours! Day 2 is planning session!!!!

 

[Stephie77]

So we wake up at 6:30 am since we had reservations at Ohanas for breakfast! They are my FAVORITE place for breakfast in Disney and I was so excited to start our planning session day off that way! We figured it would be enough food to hold us over until our menu tasting at 2:30pm. So I showered and blew out my hair(big mistake since the humidity just killed it) and we went to the lobby to meet our friends. We then drove to the Polynesian for our reservation. We get seated and i get to have the orange/mango juice they serve that is soo yummy! They brought out our food really quick and we dug in. As we were eating Mickey came over!!

Us with Mickey

It was the first time our friends' niece saw him, so she was really excited!! I was excited to eat my Mickey Waffles!! They are my favorite They also make the best scrambled eggs. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast. Next thing I knew it was 8:45 am and we had to hop the monorail to head to the planning session with Ken. We ended up being about 10 mins late, which I felt bad about but Ken could not be nicer!!! So we walk into Francks which is so beautiful inside and out.

Francks

Ken takes us into a room and the planning begins. We first spoke about photography. We decide to get the 8 hour package and will be having a photgrapher at the DP which I am very excited about. The main pictures I want are on the beach after the reception-don't want sand in my shoes and dress for the entire wedding and pics at the DP and GF lobby. We obviously don't know who we will be having but I told Ken whose pictures I like so we will see if I get my choice. We joked with Ken a lot and since he is originally from NY we had a lot in common and to talk about. It was great! We then discussed transportation. Alot of my guests are staying at the Cornado Springs, so we will be having van service going back and forth between the Cornado and the Wedding Pavillion until all our guests are there. The rest of our guests are staying at the GF so they can walk over to the WP. Since it is January and the weather hopefully should be nice, its a nice walk. We are debating getting a limo for me, tom and our parents and MOH and BM but waiting for the BEO to see about that instead of the van for us. I hope we do. We will then have the van take people to the WHR&P unless someone wants to walk they can do that also. Next we had the cake tasting!

We had the usual but since tom is allegic to almonds we had the red velvet(my fav!). We decided to go with Mickey's Delight.

Our layers are:

1st Layer-Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream
2nd Layer-Yellow Cake with Milk Chocolate Buttercream
Anniversary Layer-Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting

Us happy to be eating cake

We then met Elizabeth in Floral. She was very nice. At this point Tom left the room and I showed her my dress. I decided on all lavendar roses with mickey sworvski crystals in the bouquet. I will have it with a white ribbon and a charm attached that my grandma who passed away 12 years ago gave me when I was born. MY We discussed the rest of the florals and room set up. That was actually pretty easy because i am not a huge flower fan and picked it out pretty easlily. I will post BEO once i get it. I do want the chair covers because the chairs in the WHR&P are soo ugly and don't go with my color scheme. At 8.50 a pop, we are waiting for the BEO but i have a feeling we will be getting them. So the recption will be from 1:00-5:00 with an hour for cocktails. We are having the standard GF linens, DJ, 5 round tables and sweetheart table. I am concerned because the room is smaller then I thought it would be and if we have more than 50 guests we are in trouble. Ken will be sending us the set up and I will have a better idea. We will be doing the cocktail hour on the patio (weather permitting) so that will be nice. We are also having mickey and minnie!!! I am sooooo excited and we are not telling anyone about it so it will be a big surprise!
Us with Ken

Us leaving Francks

We then headed to the WP. It was my first time seeing the inside and i was blown away. it is beautiful. ken asked us to find the hidden mickeys, whch we did. The window that has the view of the castle is amazing and standing at the brides vestible it is even more fantastic!

US walking up

In the WP

From the Brides Vestible

We then bid farewell to Ken until 2:30 pm and made our way to the GF.


WP

So we got to GF and knew we should not eat so we got drinks at Gasparellas and Tom played videogames while i spoke to some people on the phone. I did see a bride and groom. I stopped to Congratulate them and tell them I am a disney bride. she was so cute! she was like "OMG i have to give you a hug!" i did not catch her name but it was a nice moment. Up next, Menu tasting!!!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

I love the first pair of shoes.

Oh your engagement had my eyes welled up with tears. So sweet and romantic.

I want to see your dress please, could you pm me or I can send you my email in a pm.

I love the hair half up and down, that is how I had my hair for my wedding.

can't wait to read about the rest of your ps trip.

 

[Stephie77]

So we went to through the gf lobby on our way to the menu tasting and tom was so happy to as he put it "be home" and there are our names

so cool!

We get to GF convention center and Ken is waiting for us. It is very pretty inside much different then the ones i have gone to for work. Anyway we walk through straight into the kitchen. i felt so VIP! seeing everyone continuing to work as we walked through was pretty cool. so when we walk into the chefs' kitchen, first thing i see is a sign

when i turn around this is what i see

so excited. so we sit down and the chef comes over to introduce himself to us and our own personal waiter! as soon as we sit down our waiter( asks us what we want to drink. at this point i am just waiting for the food. first we had our appetiziers. we had chicken dumpling in a chile sauce(amazing), ginger chicken pot stickers and beef skewers with chimuichurri sauce. we like the pot stickers but really loved the chicken dumplings. I forgot to take pictures of this. Next up we had crab cakes with a mustard sauce (i am allergic to dill) and bacon wrapped beef with blue cheese.

both were amazing and we will be having both for our cocktail hour along with the chicken dumplings. tom does not like fish but he humored me and tried the crab cakes. he was a real trooper and still does not like them. we then took a picture of us in the kitchen while we were waiting in between courses

Next the entrees. first we have parmesan crusted chicken with fingerling potatoes, carrots and asparagus.

I know alot of people love the chicken, i thought it was just ok. we did not love the sauce-we went with a cream sauce since we don't like mushrooms-and that could be why. we have to still decide on a chicken. the fingerling potatoes were great and we will be having those.

next we had the horseradish crusted beef with worcestershire sauce with garlic mashed potatoes.

that was awesome and the potatoes were the best i have ever tasted. we will be having that on our menu.

we were sooooo stuffed at this point but then dessert came out. all i have to say is WOW! i will post a picture and that should say it all

that white chocolate slipper was one of the best desserts we ever had. we are debating getting it since we are having cake and then the dessert party that night. tom really wants it, so we will see.
At the end of the tasting, i have never been more full in my life(this ended at 4pm and i did not eat until 1:30 the next day!) So once we finished eating we went to see the WHR&P. i was not expecting it to be as small as it was. the patio was really nice. as long as we have exactly 50 people we are fine if not i am a little concerned. i did hate the chairs and really think we will be getting chair covers. we then went to the entrance and said goodbye to ken. off we go on our merry way. we ended up back at the hotel and met up with our friends. we then went to downtown disney. our friends were hungry and we were not so they went to the crab house and tom and i walked around downtown disney and did some shopping. at around 11:30 we were in the hotel. i had another earlier morning since Patricia LeJune was coming at 9 am.

next up, hair trial with patricia and wishes dessert party!

 

[Stephie77]

6 months from today I will be married to the man I love!!!!!

 

[Stephie77]

I woke up at 7:30 to shower before my hair trial with Patricia. After I showered I went down stairs to get my coffee. I got back to the room and I had Tom take a before picture-I am half awake!

Patricia arrived a little after 9 and we started to talk about what I wanted. I showed her some pictures and told her i wanted my makeup very natural. I don't wear a lot of makeup normally. Well she did her magic and I LOVED it. she is so awesome and sweet, I felt like I knew her for a long time. Here are the pictures

Cheap veil tom got me for $10

After she was done I went down to meet Tom and the others. We headed out to Animal Kingdom. We had a lot of fun. I was worried about my hair holding up since it was so humid but it held up the whole day and night! THat made me happy since it held up in the humidity it will DEF hold up in January when there is no humidity!!! We went on the safari which is always fun

Next up Dessert Party!

 

[Stephie77]

At about 5 we decided to go back to the hotel to relax a bit before the wishes dessert party. Tom and I went to Magic Kingdom around 7, had some dinner and met up with our friends at 8:30. The dessert party started at 9. Here is my review. It is worth doing. At first we were annoyed, we made a reservation but they made everyone stand in line for bracelets. I understand giving people bracelets so if they leave they can come back in (kind of like a club) what I did not understand was why we had to stand online to get the bracelets. THey should have treated it like a restaurant where they seat you which they do anyway. Once we did get in it was wonderful. They had sooo many yummy things suchs as mini cheesecakes, tarts, rice krispy treats, this peanut butter pie thing that was to die for, cookies, brownies, fruit. They also had coffee, soda, iced teas. They kept restocking everything as it ran out which was great!

Baby JJ enjoying the Dessert Party

Me and Tom

At 10pm wishes started and the view is awesome. You can even see tink flying clearly.

All in all I give it a A, no A+ because of the unorganized line in the beginning. I highly recommend it just make sure that you call to make a reservation otherwise you won't get in. After the dessert party we of course ended the night (and our last time at MK until our wedding) at pirates.

On sunday we got up and went to a character breakfast at our hotel. It was fun! We then bid farewell to our firends who were driving back home. We had to be ready for the shuttle to the hotel at 4 so we just went to downtown disney since it was across the street from our hotel. Of course we get to the airport and our flight was delayed. When we get on I was happy to see that there were TVs on Delta! Tom passed out and I watched CNN coverage of Michael Jackson but the flight was scary. Turbulence the whole way (i hate to fly) and I left marks on Tom's armsbut we made it home safely

 

[Chilly]

Great trip

 

[JPFamilyMom]

That dessert party looked really cool. Where is the dessert viewing area held? Were the fireworks very loud from your viewing area? I'm going to have to research this party.

You looked so beautiful with your hair and makeup done, were you feeling like a bride when she was done?

 

[Stephie77]

That dessert party looked really cool. Where is the dessert viewing area held? Were the fireworks very loud from your viewing area? I'm going to have to research this party.

You looked so beautiful with your hair and makeup done, were you feeling like a bride when she was done?

Thanks. I did feel like a bride especially when i put on the veil. I really love the first shoes also. I tried them on already the other day a bergdorfs and fell in love with them. it all depends on price-i am waiting for them to go on sale. they were on sale at bergdorfs but of course they did not have my size THe dessert party is held at noodle station at MK. it is not too loud, it sounded the same to me as if i was standing by the castle. at this time it is through august, i guess they are testing it out. i hope it does continue because i would love to do it again on my honeymoon. we are having a DP at uk lochside in epcot for our wedding already which now that i have been to one, i am soooo excited!!! Thanks for reading by the way. I plan on reading your PTR but yesterday was the first time this week i was able to go on the boards and posting my PS took HOURS!!

 

[Stephie77]

Great trip

Thanks Claire!! it was sooo much fun!

 

[tiggersam00]

Looks like a blast Steph! I am seriously rethinking adding the roast beef to our PS next month, it looks so tender

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

I LOVE IT! the food looks delicious!!

The dp- that was all your friends and family? Or isit something different in MK? Let me know if you can!

The shoe !I want to eat it!

Your hair is now saved on my computer because its exactly what I wanted but i could only ever find girls with blond hair so i didnt know how brunettes would look with the style (Does that make any sense at all? )lol

And the makeup is perfect. Wow. once you put the veil on it was so bridal (And of course the belle shirt- my fav disney princess) love it!!!

 

[Stephie77]

I LOVE IT! the food looks delicious!!

The dp- that was all your friends and family? Or isit something different in MK? Let me know if you can!

The shoe !I want to eat it!

Your hair is now saved on my computer because its exactly what I wanted but i could only ever find girls with blond hair so i didnt know how brunettes would look with the style (Does that make any sense at all? )lol

And the makeup is perfect. Wow. once you put the veil on it was so bridal (And of course the belle shirt- my fav disney princess) love it!!!

Thanks!! i really loved my hair, i am happy you like it and hope you do it the same way. i totally understand what you mean!! lol I also mainly found blondes with that hair, os i am glad i can help out a fellow brunette!!! The DP was in the MK at the noodle station for wishes. you need to call disney for reservations but it is open to everyone. it is going on through the end of august so you totally should try to book it for your honeymoon. it is so worth it. belle is my favorite also! i am even walking down the isle to beauty and the beast.

 

[Stephie77]

Looks like a blast Steph! I am seriously rethinking adding the roast beef to our PS next month, it looks so tender

it was so awesome. you will have the best time for yours. the horseradish crusted beef was so good and tender. i highly recommend it.

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

Thanks!! i really loved my hair, i am happy you like it and hope you do it the same way. i totally understand what you mean!! lol I also mainly found blondes with that hair, os i am glad i can help out a fellow brunette!!! The DP was in the MK at the noodle station for wishes. you need to call disney for reservations but it is open to everyone. it is going on through the end of august so you totally should try to book it for your honeymoon. it is so worth it. belle is my favorite also! i am even walking down the isle to beauty and the beast.

OMG steff thats so awesome thanks for telling me. Was it alot a head? Were there alot of people ? Sorry so many questions but i wanted a dessert party so bad and this is just wonderful

Noodles is in tomorrowland right?

 

[Stephie77]

OMG steff thats so awesome thanks for telling me. Was it alot a head? Were there alot of people ? Sorry so many questions but i wanted a dessert party so bad and this is just wonderful

Noodles is in tomorrowland right?

we went with our friends(there were 4 adults and 2 childres-see pic on previous page) who met us down there. there was probably about 50 people at the DP.

yes noodles is in tomorrowland. i dont mind questions jenny, ask away. you have to make a reservation or you won't get in. you can call disney directly-here is the thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2208048&highlight=dessert+party