deekaypee
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 3,538
Okay Allie, (and Diane),
You asked for it! But before I go on to my story, Allie--a GOOSE? No, I can't top that one. But see #4, below.
I had an incredible time for my 40th birthday, and I highly recommend spending the big one, or any birthday, at Disney. I wore my button every day, not to try to score any free swag, but I so loved getting the well wishes from everyone. My favorite spontaneous moments included these:
Now on to the big stuff about the surprise weekend. DOOD planned everything very well, remembering all the little details about what I loved about Disney & worked his own special brand of PD.
For instance, DOOD knew I'd been longing to stay at the Poly for a long time. So he made several phone calls before finally scoring a room (and we were upgraded as a birthday treat). What a great view! He made ADRs at restaurants that had sentimental meaning to us, including Rose & Crown and Crystal Palace. He also made sure I had a character breakfast at Ohana, so I could get a "team" photo.
DOOD also took care of the arrangements for dinner with my college friends. We ate at Kona Cafe, so that we could hang out at the resort without worrying about getting home (and so my friends could be jealous, as they pointed out. 
) That evening was low-key and relaxing, which represented the entire trip. We didn't go tour commando, but stopped & smelled the roses--quite literally, as we went to the Flower & Garden Show. Because we were taking it easy, I got to see DeVine for the first time, too! And I didn't even care that most of the weekend was rainy.
And then he absolutely spoiled me with the presents! I thought the trip was the present, or the APs that he upgraded us to because he's agreed we should do the ToT race. But noooooo, that was just the setting. He had two presents for me waiting at home. The first was a Disney t-shirt covered in all the pins we'd collected from our trips together; it will form the backdrop to the shadowbox he bought to create a memory of the trip. The second present was two original production drawings from Trader Mickey (1932), one of the early cartoons with a non-PC Mickey. (For some reason, I've always loved the production drawings more than the cells.)
Best of all, we spent time together--undistracted by work, household obligations, or even our cats. It provided us with some much-appreciated, maybe even needed "couple" time.
The whole trip made me feel very loved & that my birthday was reason for celebration. Now, you all know that's the way I feel about my birthday, but it's nice to know DOOD feels the same way. You can just see how happy I am by the pics I'm posting, with two of my favorite guys in the whole world. Not one of DOOD, but he's shy about my posting pics of him.
A SPECIAL NOTE TO MY ALSO-TURNING-40 WISHERS
I just want you all to know that turning 40 can be a great thing.
Not because of the special attention, the trips, or the presents--not that I turned my nose up at any of those--but because I feel really good about who I am at 40. I know myself better, I'm more open to new experiences, and less concerned with failure or what others may think. I'm learning to challenge myself, thanks to the support of loved ones and my WISHmates. It's a great time to be me & to be 40--and I hope you all have similar feelings when it comes to your special birthdays. And know I'll be thinking of you this year and will want to hear your stories!!!!
You asked for it! But before I go on to my story, Allie--a GOOSE? No, I can't top that one. But see #4, below.
I had an incredible time for my 40th birthday, and I highly recommend spending the big one, or any birthday, at Disney. I wore my button every day, not to try to score any free swag, but I so loved getting the well wishes from everyone. My favorite spontaneous moments included these:
- A CM named Judy, working in the MK, noticed my button and asked me if anyone had sung Happy Birthday to me. I said no, and she immediately took me to her register area, where she phoned up Goofy. It turns out he's been "looking for me" all day. When she handed the phone over to me, he sang Happy Birthday.
- Two CMs in DHS stopped to wish me Happy Birthday in the rain. I said I'd stand there in the rain until they sang to me. They sang me this very witty song, but not Happy Birthday. (It was sort of sarcastic, but hilarious!)
- A young girl (tween) went out of her way to wish me a Happy Birthday...just because I was sitting alone at that moment.
- On my birthday proper, a big black bird flew into my room, walked around, and apparently approved of everything because it flew away before I started to panic.
Now on to the big stuff about the surprise weekend. DOOD planned everything very well, remembering all the little details about what I loved about Disney & worked his own special brand of PD.
For instance, DOOD knew I'd been longing to stay at the Poly for a long time. So he made several phone calls before finally scoring a room (and we were upgraded as a birthday treat). What a great view! He made ADRs at restaurants that had sentimental meaning to us, including Rose & Crown and Crystal Palace. He also made sure I had a character breakfast at Ohana, so I could get a "team" photo.
DOOD also took care of the arrangements for dinner with my college friends. We ate at Kona Cafe, so that we could hang out at the resort without worrying about getting home (and so my friends could be jealous, as they pointed out. ) That evening was low-key and relaxing, which represented the entire trip. We didn't go tour commando, but stopped & smelled the roses--quite literally, as we went to the Flower & Garden Show. Because we were taking it easy, I got to see DeVine for the first time, too! And I didn't even care that most of the weekend was rainy. And then he absolutely spoiled me with the presents! I thought the trip was the present, or the APs that he upgraded us to because he's agreed we should do the ToT race. But noooooo, that was just the setting. He had two presents for me waiting at home. The first was a Disney t-shirt covered in all the pins we'd collected from our trips together; it will form the backdrop to the shadowbox he bought to create a memory of the trip. The second present was two original production drawings from Trader Mickey (1932), one of the early cartoons with a non-PC Mickey. (For some reason, I've always loved the production drawings more than the cells.)
Best of all, we spent time together--undistracted by work, household obligations, or even our cats. It provided us with some much-appreciated, maybe even needed "couple" time.
The whole trip made me feel very loved & that my birthday was reason for celebration. Now, you all know that's the way I feel about my birthday, but it's nice to know DOOD feels the same way. You can just see how happy I am by the pics I'm posting, with two of my favorite guys in the whole world. Not one of DOOD, but he's shy about my posting pics of him.
A SPECIAL NOTE TO MY ALSO-TURNING-40 WISHERS
I just want you all to know that turning 40 can be a great thing.
Not because of the special attention, the trips, or the presents--not that I turned my nose up at any of those--but because I feel really good about who I am at 40. I know myself better, I'm more open to new experiences, and less concerned with failure or what others may think. I'm learning to challenge myself, thanks to the support of loved ones and my WISHmates. It's a great time to be me & to be 40--and I hope you all have similar feelings when it comes to your special birthdays. And know I'll be thinking of you this year and will want to hear your stories!!!!
Must mean GREAT things are going to happen to us. 
You look like you are having a great time in those pics. 
Now I wish I was going to the Minnie. I'll get to try it out this weekend on a race in my new age bracket. 
That is great that you and DOOD are going back for the TOT race too. Sounds like there will be a good turn out of the group. I keep sneaking peeks at the air but am currently commited to the Exp Everest weekend since DH thought it sounds like fun. His 1st Disney race so it will be fun. 
, so I wore my DIS green! 
Anyway, one of the preschool teachers I help brought in yummy banana muffins for our breakfast treat. They had treated me to lunch and a yummy chocolate dessert the day before. At my preschool, we believe in celebrating multiple days. 
Oh, well what can ya' do? 
Luckily, I had not started going yet. 
Anyway, I took care of business, then hurriedly dried off the phone and battery. I got out to the sink area and tried to dry it off some more. It still had a screen and all my information seemed to be fine. (remember that for later in the story) 
I got to talking to a lady beside me, and she was questioning me on how I had done, how long I had been racing, etc. I told her that I was running the local 10K in May, and she said, " you know it is a rough course, right?" Well, yes, I've heard about the killer hill. I told her that I had been training, and had a plan of attack. The race started and we ran and chatted, but then I got to the point that I couldn't talk and run at the same time, so I told her to go on. Well, I'm sure she was happy 'cause she left me in the dust. 
He is the Best person to buy flowers from and she had been asking if anyone had seen him. Well, I dial her number, press send, AND...... I hear NOTHING in my phone. My phone appeared to be fine, but there were no sounds coming from it when I pressed the buttons, and no sounds coming from the earpiece. Oh CARP!! It wasn't working after all.
