The "I've Waited My Whole Life" Christmas Suprise Trip Report-Final/Video Update 2/21

[nan1217]

Love your trip report, your kids are cute and funny and I love that you love The Office! Jim said "yes"!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Thanks to you MomofCKJ my husband is actually up for the idea of going to Disney World . We loved the idea of you giving the trip to your kids for Christmas. We decided we are going to surprise our boys in March in 2009 for their birthdays and tell everyone to give them $$ and we are also going to ask for $$ for our birthdays and Christmas next year to help pay for expenses. We both read you whole trip report in one day took about 1 1/2 hours each, but it was worth it. My husband loves your trippie, he said he feels like he has known your family for years. First trippie he has ever read. Thank you for the ideas, can't wait for the end of your trippie. Thank you again.

Awww, I am so glad you have been inspired by our story to do your own suprise trip! I am telling you it was so nice to have this great trip and the awesome memories over a pile of toys and other assorted "stuff". We talk about the trip all the time and by now toys would have been long forgotton. Doing this as their gift was the best thing we could have done!

Allyson

 

[mindystar]

Ugh, losing the whole day of writing, that stinks big time--sorry!!!
Le Cellier, mmmm I loved the soup there
It is sad that your trippie is coming to an end--and it's never to early to start planning for your next trip

 

[AshClan]

Allyson,

What a bummer losing an hour's work! I was so afraid of that happening. I wrote mine in Word before posting and saved and resaved!

Loved the AK installment. We weren't blown away by Donald's breakfast either. It was breakfast, and it gets you into the park early, but that's pretty much it, IMO. Isn't EE the best!?! I can't wait to ride it again! Never done the Rafiki's Planet Watch drill. Probably won't, ever. Your "eh" is certainly not the first I've heard on that front!

Can't wait to hear how you like Le Cellier!! Did you get the cheese soup? What about the Chocolate Moose?! Yum!!

 

[tadamom]

Glad you're back!!

 

[Becky521]

Goofy approached me and in a quiet voice, thank goodness, said to me "Is it inappropriate to say someone has a big bum?". I looked up and at the check in was a woman with a rather big bum, and well to my little Goofy it just might have been the biggest bum he would have ever seen in his short 4 years. Thank goodness for his unusually quiet voice and the loud din of the filled to capacity restaurant, said lady could not have heard him. I told him that yes it was in fact inappropriate and tried to distract him to something else. Embarassing moment averted. Phew!

I just love this kid Glad to see you back. I have to admit I'm kind of sad your trip is coming to an end too. What will I do when I can't check in with "My friends" any more?

 

[mikymouse]

I know it is sad to end a trip report. Reading other people's trip reports is good therapy! We will be here when you are ready to post again.

 

[Disneyanajc]

Allyson,
Sorry you lost your hours worth of work.....BUT so happy to see you back! I know it is sad to finish a report....wish I could pack you and the family up and take you with us....I love your report, and your little ones are the cutest.
Oh! and Girl Scouts cookies, Samoa's (hope I spelled that right) I (had) to order three boxes...just love them. Wishing you and the girls "great sales".
JC

 

[skippyman111]

DIS Did the Double Post.

 

[skippyman111]

We exited and found some cute things in the old dump shop but didn't buy anything. They did have some cute Ts though. I liked the "Scream like a Girl" one.

Like this one?

We were seated in a corner. If you are standing at the check in desk and look to your right and over the half wall, we were right down there.

Hey we were in those same seats in Sept 2005 !!!

Great TR ! Your kids are cuties!

 

[lucky978]

Love your trip report! Thank you so much for sharing! Can't wait for more!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Here are some photos from Bashful's 15 minutes of fame in the Kodak show:

Okay, so we perused the menu. Anyone who questions coming to this restaurant with kids, no worries mate. The place is loud, at least it was on the night we were there. Packed and loud, not an intimate romantic spot. There were lots of kids and families eating.

This is the meal I had most been looking forward to and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. It was wonderful! Here is what everyone had for all you foodies out there:

Belle: Carrots and Celery, Pasta with sauce, ice cream sundae

Bashful: Cheese Soup, Kid's Steak (supposed to be a $2 surcharge but we were not charged), Fruit Cup, Chocolate Raspberry Shake (which she gave to me as she did not care for it, twist my arm I'll drink it)

Goofy: Cheese Soup (he didn't want it but Grumpy and I wanted to try it and since he was entitled an appetizer why not right?), hot dog (yup, our last special vacation dinner in Canada and the boy wants a weiner) and ice cream sundae

Grumpy: Steakhouse Caesar, Filet with Maple BBQ on the side (nice tip from the DIS to order on the side), chocolate cake, some sort of Canadian brewski

Moi- Shrimp Cocktail (so good with a kick to it), same Filet as Grumpy, and the Creme Brulee duo (Maple and Vanilla).

Grumpy and I also got a side of Bearnaise sauce for our Filets.

Thoughts on the food? Excellent! The steaks were to die for, appys were great, desserts wonderful, that fantastic pretzel bread, all of it. And dipping the pretzel bread in the cheese soup? Oh yeah! Yes all you read about Le Cellier on the DIS is true, all the wonderful gushing reviews. The place does dinner and it does it well. I would definately go back, in a heartbeat.

The one area lacking in my opinion, the kids dessert menu. Their choices? Fruit Cup and Ice Cream Sundae. Thankfully my kids just love the Make Your Own Sundae and had no complaints. I however knew that not long ago the Chocolate Moose and the Campfire S'mores were on the kids dessert list and now they are only on the adult menu. I think that is a bummer. The kids not only get the shaft with very limited options to choose from for their meal but they also get the same old same old desserts. Come on Disney, liven up the kids desserts! Kids Love Dessert!

Service was great and we enjoyed our time here alot. Grumpy took the kids outside and I stayed to settle the bill. She had a hard time with our cards, remember we have 2 rooms. So we ended up with some credits on this one, some on that one and our extra charges (the beer and the Bearnaise) charged to our room. I tallied the bill for this night and it was $165. Considering we paid about $110 for the whole days dining plan (CS, TS and a snack for each of us) we definately made out this day.

We left and there was still a lot of people waiting to get in. It is certainly a very busy place. We were not planning to stay for Illuminations tonight so we started walking to the front. We passed through all the lights, I know it has a name but it escapes me. I made the crew stop at all the Photopass photogs I could find. Poor Grumpy, he was not into this but he did it and smiled. It was just sinking in to me that we would be going home the next day. This was our last time in Epcot and I felt myself shift into "must take pictures of everything" mode. You know, to try and capture the magic so I could take it home. So I hit up all the Photopass folks and snapped my own too. I just wanted to be able to remember it all.

I would look at people walking past me and wonder if they were just arriving on their vacation or getting ready to go home too. I was definately feeling that feeling that I think it was ZZUB described, you know where you are so jealous looking at people starting their magical vacation when you are clinging to the last moments of your own. That is how I felt, just wanting to stop time.

We got to SpaceShip Earth and go figure, no line. We had not been on it yet so we hopped on. I remember the first time I rode this in the early 80s. I loved it! My favorite part was the smell of Rome burning. Why? I have no idea. I think because it just seemed so cutting edge then to have smells on a ride. Only at Disney. My kids were so so on this. I was sitting with Goofy and he of course asked if it went any faster and if there were any hills. When we turned backwards and went down the hill that seemed to appease his need for speed a little.

Full of knowledge on the history of communications we headed out. Trudged our way to the bus and rode home to the Pop. What a sad walk. The walk to the room on the last night. *sigh*

The kids went to bed and I got busy packing. Oh how I hate this part. After having spent 10 months planning and reading and researching, thinking about this trip every night before I fell asleep, plotting and planning and dreaming, and it was over tomorrow. Over. Sure we still had a half day at the MK but we were getting on a plane tomorrow and someone else would be getting our rooms at the Pop and starting their fun filled vacation. I was one sorry sad sack this night.

Arranged for a wake up call and went to bed. The plan was to check out early, store the luggage at Pop and go off to MK. We had a 2pm pick up from Sunray so we had a few good hours plus lunch at MK. We planned to make the most of it.

Coming soon...our last morning at MK and Bashful buys something that leaves me all ferklepmt.

 

[tink's girls]

I just love your trip report Allyson. I know what you mean about that feeling you get when you realize you have to leave the magic. I just love WDW! There's no other place like it! Anyway, I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip. Oh, one more thing. I see you are thinking about staying at POP again in 2008. I guess you were satisfied?!? We stayed at Movies last time and were going to try Sports next time (either Oct. 07 or March 08) but have heard some not so good things - run down, dirty, etc. Hadn't considered POP but maybe I should!

 

[mindystar]

I too understand that last day feeling. Usually the first time we get on the monorail and hear it tell people if it's their last time visiting they wish them a safe journey home, and I feel sorry for them--and already a little depressed about our trip being over, and it's just starting! And then when we hear that same sentiment as it's our last time before leaving--so sad And I too am camera happy at the end--I even took a picture of our parking spot at the CR of our last trip (plus it was NC-17, ha-ha.)
Can't wait for ferklepmt-ness

 

[wvdislover]

Oh, that end-of-trip feeling!!! I actually cried, not only as we left the park on the last night, but also as we rode the ME bus back to the airport. I know my DH didn't dare look at me, as he knew he'd start laughing at me and be in the doghouse for the rest of his life! Anyways, I can't wait to hear about your last day and hear about the plans for the next trip!

 

[mlill]

I would look at people walking past me and wonder if they were just arriving on their vacation or getting ready to go home too. I was definately feeling that feeling that I think it was ZZUB described, you know where you are so jealous looking at people starting their magical vacation when you are clinging to the last moments of your own. That is how I felt, just wanting to stop time.

I know that feeling too well! I start getting sad about half-way through each trip and by the end, I'm a basket case! I can't believe your TR is almost over! Le Cellier on your last night was a great choice. Beautiful picture of the kids in front of Spaceship Earth!!! I can't wait to hear what Bashful bought you...

Have a great weekend!
-Michelle

 

[AshClan]

Another great installment, Allyson. You have me craving Le Cellier now. Hmph. And we don't even have ADRs for April. I was going to wait until the Fall, when we go without the kids.

OH, and that brings me to my next point. My last couple of trips to WDW were the first trips that I didn't have that horrible "I don't want to leave" feeling. I have discovered a cure. You have to have your NEXT trip booked before you even end the first vacation. That way, you know you'll be back (hopefully soon) and it takes much of the sting away!! Better yet, buy DVC. That's what we did...

 

[wvdislover]

Oooh! Le Cellier! I don't know which is better, the cheese soup or the melt-in-your-mouth filet! Can't wait till...whenever

 

[CarolB]

Can't wait to read all about your last day!

 

[Becky521]

I think we all get that End of the trip depression. (I'm liking Ashclan's idea about having trip #2 planned before the end of trip #1 ) Our last day was Christmas and we spent 18 wet, magical hours at MK because we just didn't want it to end.