The Pied Hurricane Piper turns 30 - POFQ - Sept. 10th through 15th. A Pre trip report. - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The Pied Hurricane Piper turns 30 - POFQ - Sept. 10th through 15th. A Pre trip report. FINALLY UPDATED 9/6/08
Cast of Characters
DH - Marc – 31.
Has never been to Disney. Never had the desire to go until we took an impromptu trip to Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2003. He stepped off the Mummy ride with a look of awe that can only come from something one has never experienced before. He said “Ange.” (that’s me. I’ll get to me later) “that was so... so... real. The detail was awesome.” To which I laughed (at him. Because, I do that sometimes. More often now though because we’ve been married for almost 6 years, and not almost one.) and said, “And you don’t want to go to Disney huh? That’s one tenth of what you get there.” At that point, he changed his point of view. And, although it’s taken us 5 years to get to it, one of the top 5 things I’m looking forward to is seeing that look of awe again. (It’s hard to come by. The last time was when Aaron was born 2 years ago, and the time before that was December 2004 when we stepped foot on the Vegas strip.)
Me – Angela (Annie or Ange. But never Angie.) – Going there - 29. Coming home - 30
I was at WDW once when I was 9 years old. There was a tornado hit the area we were flying over about a half hour into the trip making the ride very bumpy. We also landed in Jamaica in the midst of Hurricane Lili while on our honeymoon in 2002. We made 3 approaches to land at Sangster International Airport and were almost headed to Cuba as an alternate. Needless to say, we made it onto the island and despite almost hitting a cow on the way to the resort, and having the roads washed out the next day, we had a great time.
I tell you this so that you know that I am not a rookie when it comes to vacationing during inclement weather conditions. If anything, I think they follow me.
Anyway, about me... (that was where I was going with this, wasn’t it?) I’m the reason for the trip really. I will be turning 30 while I’m away and this vacation is my gift from my hubby and son in place of a party because my husband felt that planning one of those would be too difficult to plan as a surprise.
Have I mentioned this entire trip was supposed to be a surprise? I wasn’t supposed to know anything about it until we entered the park. So how did I end up planning it? More about that later. (Would it kill you to have a little patience? Sheesh...)
The final cast member is...
DS- Aaron (2)
The apple of our eyes and my reason for living... He is a curly haired ball of energy who could rival Tigger. Once I found out we were going to WDW for my birthday, I started exposing him to more and more Disney stuff and now I have created a MONSTER! He is in love with Mickey and the gang, can pick off Cinderella’s Castle in the blink of an eye, and if I show him the Magic Kingdom map in the Passporter, he can tell me where exactly it is that Mickey Mouse lives. This week, I just taught him to say “Hi Mickey. Pleased to meet you! I’m Aaron”. Seeing the magic through his eyes is one of my other top 5 things I’m looking forward to.
Here is our last family pic (Christmas)
And a new one of Aaron because his hair finally sprouted:
So by now you’re wondering when we’re (The Disbeliever, the Pied Hurricane Piper & the Toddler Tornado) are hitting the world right?
Well... We leave by mini van (hence forth referred to as “the bus”) Sunday September 7th at 6 am from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Our road trip itinerary is as follows:
Sunday, September 7th - visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania and sleeping in Harrisburg PA
Monday, September 8th – sleeping in Charlotte, NC. Visiting with friends and eating at a couple places we saw on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Tuesday, September 9th – sleeping in Daytona Beach, FL if Hanna & Ike will let us. Otherwise, not so sure really.
Wednesday, September 10th – Checking in at POFQ and staying there until September 15th.
Tuesday, September 16th - We get on the Autotrain and head to Lorton VA where we will drive the remaining 9 hours back to our home. Unless of course I can successfully get DH to stop somewhere for the night.
Tune in next nap time for our planned park days, and our ADRs... And how I came to be the one planning my surprise birthday vacation.
__________________
WOW! After a total 180 degree turn in life, I'm going back to Disney! SSR THV Jan. 8th, 2012 DB37, DS5, DSD7, DMom62 & DDad63, DFIL72. SOOOOOOO excited!!! PTR HERE
Read my COMPLETED Sept. 2008 pre-trip report HERE
Read my not finished Trip report from Sept. 2008 HERE
Last edited by I_am_Annie; 09-06-2008 at 08:27 AM..
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I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world.
__________________
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WOW what a great trip it will be for all 3 of you, tons and tons of that Hanna does not interrupt your plans. Hurry back can't wait to read the next chapter
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Thanks so much for reading what I have so far. And for all the compliments on my son. I think he's pretty darn cute. But, I'm biased. :P
PART 2 (and most likely the last entry until the Trip Report starts)
So where was I...
You see, you’ll have to forgive me for taking so long to get back to this. I should know better to take the good graces of naptime in vain by now. But, I didn’t and we haven’t really since I mentioned it here in my PTR. Further to which, DS hasn’t been going to sleep at night either. I’m thinking he is excited about Disney. So are DH & I. But we’re both very tired. And behind on schedule for our packing. But that’s neither here nor there.
Last year, DH turned 30. We had a big party, invited everyone he knew, and it was fun. Well... I guess DH felt some pressure to have to do the same for me for my impending 30th. However, in the mean time we have moved 5 hours away from everyone and everything we know. So, that made things a little more difficult. So, he decided that a surprise birthday trip would be a much better option. I wasn’t to know until we arrived at our destination.
Great Idea! Awesome and heartwarming for sure.
But, somewhat impossible to pull off because we’ve been together for 14 years and I can pretty well read what he’s thinking. So this is how it happened...
We’re sitting watching Jon & Kate one night. DH hates the show. And, normally just ignores what I’m watching in favour of the computer. But on this particular episode the Gosselin brood are heading to Walt Disney World and the sextuplets are 2 (just like DS). DH starts asking a million and one questions about whether they’d enjoy the park, whether they’d be difficult to deal with etc. Etc. He’s extremely interested in their resort (FW) and won’t stop with the questions.
Knowing that we’re supposed to be going on a surprise birthday trip, my mind sets off a red alert... He couldn’t be... Could he? Really?
WHOO HOO!
I needed to be a part of this. DH and I are very different when it comes to planning things. (Yes... I won’t go into details. But I’m a little obsessive with lists. )
Then there was a magic Disney bounceback offer that arrived in the mail addressed to the apartment’s previous tenant that got us talking one night at dinner (no joke).
That prompted DH to pull out the laptop and we sat pricing stuff out for a bit.
Stage 2 red alert going off here.
We read something somewhere that said something about free dining in September. And I think that sealed the deal for him. I started planning the vacation in my mind. But never said anything. It wasn’t until one night he was on the computer and he turned and said “I’m thinking you might get more fun out of planning our vacation if I let you do it. And, I might need your help. What do you think? Do you want to know?”
To which I said... “Well... If its a trip that requires a lot of planning like Disney, than yes. But if its an all inclusive in the tropics somewhere, no.” He made some confused comment about a Disney vacation being less involved than a resort (I think he was thinking transportation coordination). To which I lost all reserve and said “Its Disney isn’t it?” He sheepishly said “no” and did the thing he does when he’s been trying to cover something up. So I left it.
Only to return 5 minutes later to tell him I knew it was Disney and I would LOVE to go and LOVE to plan it.
And then the OCD took over.
And I got a Passporter and found all of you here.
There were spreadsheets with resort and pricing options, not only ones I created, but I sent it to a friend who was a CM once upon a time and she added to it.
There were early morning phone calls to get in the que for Free Dining and MNSSHP.
There were ADRs, park days to plan, etc. Etc.
There were wardrobe choices made for my DS. (Half of which no longer fit because of a growth spurt)
And most of all, there were itinerary cards to be made that needed to encompass all of that stuff...
(There is a back to them too. But, its just really the map.)
So far I have Disney Vacation crafted the cards, the folder, the Stroller cards, the mousekeeping envelopes, and an autograph book for DS. My latest creation (still not totally done) is DS’s Mickey Mouse costume and our Mouseketeer ones for the MNSSHP! I think I’ve gone a little crazy. Its been similar to planning a wedding. (Which I also really enjoyed) I am a little sad to be done with the planning part. I know we will have a GREAT time on our trip. Even with Ike threatening to join us. But, WHAT WILL I DO WHEN I COME HOME??? :P
Park days/ ADRS
Sept 10 – Arrive – MK – Hoop Dee Doo Sept 11 – EPCOT – Le Cellier Sept 12 – Animal Kingdom am – MNSSHP pm – Liberty Tree Tavern Sept 13 – MY BIRTHDAY @ Magic Kingdom – Cinderella’s Royal Table am – Tony’s Town Square pm Sept 14 – Hollywood Studios – Primetime Diner lunch – Sci Fi Dinner Sept 15 – EPCOT, or one of the water parks.
This will most likely be it for me until we come back. The packing still needs to be finished. The road trip snacks made, costume finished, car loaded and cat dropped off with one of DHs coworkers. Have a safe and fun week!
__________________
WOW! After a total 180 degree turn in life, I'm going back to Disney! SSR THV Jan. 8th, 2012 DB37, DS5, DSD7, DMom62 & DDad63, DFIL72. SOOOOOOO excited!!! PTR HERE
Read my COMPLETED Sept. 2008 pre-trip report HERE
Read my not finished Trip report from Sept. 2008 HERE
Last edited by I_am_Annie; 09-06-2008 at 08:28 AM..
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WOW! After a total 180 degree turn in life, I'm going back to Disney! SSR THV Jan. 8th, 2012 
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that Hanna does not interrupt your plans. Hurry back can't wait to read the next chapter
How cool that you were able to get involved in the planning! 
~Angie
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