The Harvard Grad and the Old Legionnaire do Disney (pre-t

[Frank Bullitt]

OK, first time doing a trip report, this is the pretrip...I planned a trip down to WDW back in January for me and my brother, but at the last minute he couldn't make it for the entire week, so my Dad asked if he could go. Some people do father-son bonding on camping trips, fishing or the like, we do Disney...go figure
The timeframe:
Sunday 9/24 to Sunday 10/01
Staying at the CR (garden wing)
ADR's
Sci-Fi Dine In, Cali Grille, Chef Mickey's, Donald's Breakfast, Chefs des France, Norwegian Castle-whose-name-escapes-me, and a coupla CS's

The Cast:
Me: 28 years old, business professional with an MBA and a Disney nut, recently re-enkindled by a trip to WDW in sept 2005. The harvard grad is an inside joke, I didn't get my MBA there but I had a g/f in college who was from that general neck of the woods and she sent me a harvard business school shirt as a going away gift when she graduated. So if you see a guy in a dark blue harvard t-shirt or a light blue polo with the harvard biz school on it, its probably me.
Dad: wont say age, but guessing in the double-nickel area...retired from international sales, currently consulting in international regulations for a fortune 500 company. Big fan of disney, went to disneyland as a kid and was there the 1st year it opened. The nickname "legionnaire" comes from his background; my grandfather (his dad) was French and dad served as a reservist in the French army until he reached retirement age. Whenever it comes up in conversation they assume he served in the Foreign Legion...its a bit of a family joke.
Brother: 28 years old (twin brother) also a disney nut, neither he nor my dad have been to WDW since 1989 so it'll be a real treat for `em.

Currently we have all our reservations and paperwork lined up...still not packed but, c'mon we're guys here! Anyways I'll try and give updates and interesting annecdotes.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Hi! We arrive the same day and have ressies at Cali Grille and Akershus, too. I will be on the lookout for the Harvard tee/polo.

 

[KathyRN137]

ADR's
Sci-Fi Dine In, Cali Grille, Chef Mickey's, Donald's Breakfast, Chefs des France, Norwegian Castle-whose-name-escapes-me, and a coupla CS's

Just the mental image of three manly men at a character meal makes me

Have fun!

Kathy

 

[OhMari]

What's with girlfriends giving their boyfriends "Harvard" t-shirts. My ds girlfriend was out east competing in ice skating and she brought him home a "Harvard t-shirt.

Your trip sounds fun, take lots of pictures and post with your report.

 

[Frank Bullitt]

KathyRN137
Mouseketeer wrote:
<<Just the mental image of three manly men at a character meal makes me

Have fun>>

Yeah I know its sounds silly...but my dad's sales territory was in Northeastern Europe; Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc. He developed a taste for Norweigian cuisine and when I was little I traveled with him to a trade show there and got a crash course in Scandanavian food. As for the character aspect of Aekershus, Dad is pretty cool with characters...brother doesn't know but he'll find out

 

[solgent]

The harvard grad is an inside joke, I didn't get my MBA there but I had a g/f in college who was from that general neck of the woods and she sent me a harvard business school shirt as a going away gift when she graduated.

I clicked on your TR because I am an actual Harvard grad (Class of '86)!

I have a Harvard Tshirt that I used to wear when cycling with a group of others training for a long distance ride. After months of this, the others one day discovered that I had gone to Harvard. They were all amazed. "You went to Harvard?" they asked. "Yeah," I said. "Didn't you ever notice my Tshirt?" "Oh, Solgent," one of them explained in a kindly tone. "Anyone can buy those shirts."

 

[Beana9802]

Sign me up...sounds like a hoot!

 

[Frank Bullitt]

Update Monday 9/18...

5 Days 22 Hrs 22 Mins 2 Secs as of 8 am CST thizamornin to go ... Both Dad and I have been really bizy at work for the last month so we really haven't had time to get excited about it. Now that we're down to the wire, I really don't feel like being at work...instead I feel like bouncing off the walls like the Looney Toons duck.

Finished cleaning up my place this weekend, y'ever cleaned up a room and found a shirt/article of clothing that you haven't seen in months and thought you lost it? That's the way it was this weeking. In hindsight I think next time I'll either clean my place more often (like twice a year instead once a year) or else using more efficient tools like a D-12 bulldozer...

Next up will be the colossal task of packing (Do I use up a Magic Express Tag for my golf clubs or rent `em?? Decisions decisions) and the crazy logisitics of getting myself and my Dad (neither of whom are particular morning persons) up in time for our 6:30 am Sunday flight more details to come this week....

 

[KathyRN137]

Kathy

 

[Frank Bullitt]

Sheesh...the only thing worse than sitting in a boring morning sales meeting on 5 hours of sleep...is GIVING the boring sales meeting on 5 hours of sleep
Still not finished packing, I have decided since there are laundry facilities at the Contemporary Resort I'm gonna pack light. Dad and I are still debating the wisdom of packing golf clubs versus renting them at the courses.
Thankfully I was able to get a competative rate at the airport marriot for Saturday night. Our town in a tiny little wide spot in the road in Kansas and is a good 2 hours from the airport...so the alternative was getting up in the wee hours of the morning sunday. If I was in my college years I would just party it up saturday night and not goto bed. But thankfully the Marriot will put up me & Dad for a reasonable rate...Its an extra expense but I figure we'll spend more in coffee if we had to drive to the airport for 2 hours in the early morning hours

More to come later this week!
3 Days 21 Hrs 10 Mins 28 Secs to go!!!