This doesn't look like New Orleans...

[afwdwfan]

I'm frequently rearranging reservations/touring plans/etc to make sure that everything is a well laid out as possible. I'm willing to bet that there are more than a few of you out there like this...

I have no idea what you're talking about.

But first, we made our very first dining reservation, at the Liberty Tavern, at 4pm for dinner.

I like the early dinners if I'm eating in a park. It is a good time of day to be inside relaxing and you're out and ready to go a couple of hours later when everyone else is ready to eat.
And I definitely understand how Liberty Tree Tavern could win you over. One of my favorites.

Finally, I took the deviousness to a whole new level. I called a mutual friend of ours in New Orleans and told him my plan. Then, I emailed him, his wife, and my DW and pretended to make plans with them for that Saturday. I hoped that this would keep DW from making other plans! Fortunately, this plan worked as well.

Wow, way to be on the offensive. You went all out to keep her in the dark. Hopefully she appreciates a good surprise.


I love the concept of the surprise trip. That would be a very hard secret to keep. I like your idea for telling her about it, I just hope she likes it too... Looking forward to the next update!

Look how far we've come! At Star Wars Weekend, June 2010.​

Hmmm... I don't remember seeing the kid in the middle in your other family pictures.

 

[DisDadDoc]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Sure you don't.

I like the early dinners if I'm eating in a park. It is a good time of day to be inside relaxing and you're out and ready to go a couple of hours later when everyone else is ready to eat.
And I definitely understand how Liberty Tree Tavern could win you over. One of my favorites.

Totally agree! And when you get out, everyone is at dinner so the lines are short!

Wow, way to be on the offensive. You went all out to keep her in the dark. Hopefully she appreciates a good surprise.

Hmmm... I don't remember seeing the kid in the middle in your other family pictures.

 

[GoHerd1028]

Sheesh what a great and devious planner you are !! You should work for the CIA..

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Fortunately, I'm the planner in our Disney family, so planning a surprise trip for my wife was something I felt I could do. My kids will tell you that my favorite thing in the world is making dining reservations. I'm not sure that's true, but its a fair assessment. When we have a trip planned, even up to the month before, I'm frequently rearranging reservations/touring plans/etc to make sure that everything is a well laid out as possible. I'm willing to bet that there are more than a few of you out there like this...

Nope, I have no idea what you're talking about, either.

But I do like to say that the planning and anticipation are half the fun of vacation...

It was ridiculously early and we sat at the table by the kitchen door, but to us it was heaven! To get off your feet, away from the crowds? Amazing! Danny and Molly had plate after plate of roast beef. And they brought Jack a bowl of pasta and butter, just how he liked it! The chef even came out and asked Jack what he wanted to eat, giving him both an opportunity to feel special and a chance to practice his social skills. It wasn't even his usual type of pasta, but still he ate it. And after paying $2 for soda in the park, to have them bring us refill after refill was astounding!

I love LTT! I miss the characters there, though. Then again, not having them there makes it less crowded.

Awesome how they reached out to Jack as well.

My DW is an excellent photographer and I knew she'd take some amazing pictures (more of those later).

Still no clue what this is like.

Me to New Orleans to give my talk at the American Thoracic Society,

Gesundheit.

Finally, I took the deviousness to a whole new level. I called a mutual friend of ours in New Orleans and told him my plan. Then, I emailed him, his wife, and my DW and pretended to make plans with them for that Saturday. I hoped that this would keep DW from making other plans! Fortunately, this plan worked as well.

You're good!

We walked in the door, and I nervously gave her the card.

Oooh, a cliffhanger!

Hmmm... I don't remember seeing the kid in the middle in your other family pictures.

 

[stich626]

Can't wait to hear more. Would lve to have my hubby plan a trip for me.

 

[NMW]

The DH of NMW is subscribing

 

[DisDadDoc]

But I do like to say that the planning and anticipation are half the fun of vacation...

Absolutely! Doing a surprise trip is fun, but the anticipation as a family is a huge part of the enjoyment for us

Awesome how they reached out to Jack as well.

Meals and pin trading have been really excellent opportunities for practicing scripted social skills. Very reinforced at Disney with the waitstaff and chefs, who are always kind and patient!

 

[Jazzabelle508]

I'm in! I can't wait to hear how the surprise went

 

[mikera329]

Subbing!!! Romance and excitement? How can anyone resist?

 

[Jazzabelle508]

also I love hearing about surprises!

 

[Jazzabelle508]

 

[DisneyRed95]

Joining In! Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[Disney Spaz]

Joining too! I love this kind of suprise.

 

[that's nice]

Wow.. there was a lot of planing going on here! Nicely done!

I hope to one day pull off a total surprise trip!


So, you leave us with a cliffhanger huh?

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Joining in as well, sounds like a great story

 

[DisDadDoc]

Day 1​

Her first reaction was definitely shock. She was generally stunned as she rechecked her suitcase, drove to the airport and even on the airplane. It wasn't until we landed in Orlando (fortunately, a direct flight!) that it started to sink in and she started to move from stunned to thrilled. As we landed, we were just in time to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch from our airplane window. Very cool. I'd see these so many times on TV, it was neat to see one of the last flights "in person".

Shuttle Atlantis' Last Takeoff. Taken from our airplane on arrival to MCO. ​

After stopping at one of our favorite Starbucks (why isn't there Starbucks in WDW?), we caught the Magic Express to the Grand Floridian. The CM along the way couldn't have been nicer. I kept telling people that we were there for a surprise trip- our 2nd honeymoon. Although we never took a first. We moved from Washington, DC to Chicago the day after our wedding, and I started residency 2 days after our wedding. Honeymoons give you a falsely optimistic view of what married life is going to be like, we like to say. That may be rationalizing a bit.

When we arrived at the Grand Floridian, two roses, a bottle of champagne, a white chocolate Mickey and chocolate covered strawberries were waiting in our room.

I really should have taken a "Before" picture... ​

We dropped off our stuff and headed over to the Magic Kingdom to walk around before dinner. The Magic Kingdom is very different when you are there without kids. Quietier and slower in ways that are difficult to describe. It wasn't crowded (since it was around 3-4 in the afternooon) and this accentuated the fact that we were on our own.

We did some shopping (of course) and caught the end of the parade:

Hi, Mickey!​

Knowing that we'd be back in a month with the kids, we didn't feel the need to go on lots of rides. But, my favorite ride (and my DD's) is Buzz Lightyear, so DW suggested we go there next. We rode this twice, the first time DW got 999,999. Not wanting to be shown up, we rode it again and both got 999,999. A CM gave us two Galactic Hero buttons for our valor, but I gave one of them to a little boy on the way out of the giftshop.

Not today, Zurg!​

My DW's favorite ride is Space Mountain, so we hit that next. I'm not a roller coaster guy (stipulate the wimp jokes). I do Test Track, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Mission Space, but often when we got to Space Mountain or Tower of Terror, I stay on the ground with my DD. But since it was a special occasion, I braved it and survived to tell the tale.

On the way out we took the obligate picture:

That night, we had reservations at Victoria and Albert's, but more on that with the next update.

Next time: Victoria and Albert's (with lots of food pictures!)

 

[Jazzabelle508]

Sounds Fun

 

[FreezinRafiki]

As we landed, we were just in time to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch from our airplane window. Very cool. I'd see these so many times on TV, it was neat to see one of the last flights "in person".

Awesome luck on the shuttle launch. I got to see Discovery launch from the Orlando Airport in October 2007. We were waiting for our plane home and watching the launch countdown on TV. As soon as the engines fired I (along with just about everyone else in the terminal) pressed our faces to the south facing windows and strained to look as far east as we could. Sure enough, huge fireball and white smoke contrails, just like your picture. Just an awesome sight.

After stopping at one of our favorite Starbucks (why isn't there Starbucks in WDW?),

Who needs Starbucks when you can have Nescafe?

A CM gave us two Galactic Hero buttons for our valor, but I gave one of them to a little boy on the way out of the giftshop.

I noticed that you didn't say whose button you gave away. Let me guess, yours is pinned to your chest and DW walked away empty handed.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Her first reaction was definitely shock.

Any reaction after that? Preferably a happy one?

As we landed, we were just in time to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch from our airplane window. Very cool. I'd see these so many times on TV, it was neat to see one of the last flights "in person".

Awesome!

After stopping at one of our favorite Starbucks (why isn't there Starbucks in WDW?)

Dang it, Barry beat me to the Nescafe joke.

Honeymoons give you a falsely optimistic view of what married life is going to be like, we like to say. That may be rationalizing a bit.

Maybe so, but I wouldn't mind another one!

Not wanting to be shown up, we rode it again and both got 999,999.

Nice!

My DW's favorite ride is Space Mountain, so we hit that next. I'm not a roller coaster guy (stipulate the wimp jokes). I do Test Track, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Mission Space, but often when we got to Space Mountain or Tower of Terror, I stay on the ground with my DD.

Wimp jokes? Who, us?

I walk in solidarity with you on ToT, however.

 

[that's nice]

Great pics!!! How cool you got to see the space shuttle! Ever see the video someone took while they were flying over Florida?

So what is the secret of getting 999,999 on Buzz? I need pointers, PRONTO!

I need to go to WDW with you and Mark so one of you guys can hold my beer while I'm going on ToT and RnCC!!!!!