The Disney Princess and Family's Most Magical Trip Ever ... Day 1 About This Page:

[Disney Princess]

After months of planning and waiting could it ever be possible that our trip would get here?!!
Believe it or not I started packing one week before the actual trip -- and am I glad that I did! I had both my sons "daily" outfits all picked out and put in "zip-lock" bags (boy did that ever make things MUCH easier ...)
I kept going over and over in my head -- "don't forget this... and don't forget that...." and I'm happy to say that the only thing I forgot (that I didn't need anyway) was baby powder and desitin for the baby (in case of rash) ... but of course they sold it at the store so it wasn't "life threatening" to have left it behind like leaving behind the video camera or your money or something AWFUL like that!! Did I tell you all how many dreams I had that I arrived in Florida but to my TERRIBLE dismay -- I had forgotten the $$ that I had saved up (and kept hidden) and had ZIP !!! Now talk about tragedy ..... Well I got all that in my bag the night before and checked, and re-checked and finally re-checked again before walking out the door Saturday morning.

Friday night was FINALLY here -- and I was a cool as a cucumber -- everything was packed -- I was "certain" I had forgot nothing -- especially since the **thing** I had almost forgotten was already taken care of .... (thanks to a tip on the boards that I happened to read only 2 days before the trip) -- that was my driver's license! See this always happens to me when I "switch" wallets or purses or bags ... I'm "guaranteed" to forget something that I'll need but just don't think about it! Now in a million years why would I need my license? TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THE AIRLINES!!!!! Thank the LORD for these boards!!!

I hardly slept at all that night -- I kept thinking of "Home Alone" .... "PETER....WE SLEPT IN!" And then the McAllister family is running all over the house trying to get ready and get to the airport and not miss the plane!!! I didn't want that to be us!!!

Got up at 5:30 a.m. and got "all dolled up" -- and then still had my computer on to see my disney countdown clock finally reach that last few seconds of what I had been watching and waiting for the last few months ..... and then the big moment came (I didn't know if it would do anything special or not ...) -- but it FINALLY HIT ZERO! Our trip had OFFICIALLY BEGUN ... as the Limo pulled into my driveway ...... the countdown clock just started counting down "negatively" ??!! What? No "special something?" No "have a nice trip" message?! What a rip I thought -- but nevertheless just "shut" the computer down and off and got ready to head out the door!

I was smart enough to have the kids already "sleeping" in their outfits to wear for our trip on the plane and all we had to do was a quick diaper change on the baby (which unfortunately meant that would wake him up ...) and then we were OFF!

Had a relatively good flight to Orlando -- but then again ANY bit of turbulence disturbs me TREMENDOUSLY. I hate to fly -- I'm so scared! I mean it's really getting worse as I get older I think -- I mean I just keep thinking of the "plane crashing" -- and I know I shouldn't but I can't help it! Anyway -- we finally landed in Orlando --- (THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING US A SAFE FLIGHT!!!) And I thought I would just burst into tears with the excitement of stepping off that plane and riding the "people mover" over to the baggage area. That excitement you just NEVER forget!!!

My man "Dave" was waiting with a sign with my name on it from Tiffany Town Car and we gathered up all the luggage and headed off to "Publix" -- which brings me to tip #1 -- don't "overbuy" groceries! We spent like $70 -- and we should have easily only spent about $40. Got our cooler, got us some wine, got us some snacks and juice for the kiddies .. and we were OFF to the ALL STAR MOVIES resort!!!

All these months of planning ... all these long hours on the boards (as if that's a "burden" right??!!) -- and then I walk into the lobby at the ALL STAR MOVIES ..... and I already knew -- I WAS ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THIS RESORT!

Check in was an absolute breeze -- all my requests right down to the room numbers came through (now that took some work on my part ... email me if you want the whole story there ...) And then my beautiful package from Jane and the pixies at Gifts of a Lifetime and what a SMASH that was! Everyone loved their ears especially with our names on them and all of our guest of honor badges!!! And Zachary was so excited about his "autograph" book and his "passport" !!! The package was presented BEAUTIFULLY -- the balloons really made it ... but sorry to say Jane said she is no longer "doing" balloons ... what a shame -- they looked so gorgeous in our room window all week long!!!

Then we were off to the Food Court to buy some "grub" and get those MUGS!!!!!
What a great food court!! Plenty of selection and the mugs are the best deal going!!!

Now to finally go see the rooms and determine if they are as "small" as people "claim" they are ...... WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! WHO SAID THESE ROOMS ARE SMALL! I'VE BEEN AT PORT ORLEANS TWICE AND THE ROOM IS NOT THAT MUCH SMALLER BY A LONG SHOT!! JUST ONE LESS SINK -- WHHHOOPPP-DEEE-DOO!!! My goodness -- we have two small children who run around A LOT and I never once felt like the room was small by any stretch of the imagination! We've been at the Poly and the Y & B too and really I didn't see a whole "heck" of a lot of difference even from those rooms (other than having balconies .... and a separate getting ready area in the Y&B's case)

Ok -- "freshen" up a bit -- take some pictures with our "ears" on ... come off of cloud nine -- and then head out to the Magic Kingdom for the MSEP and fireworks! However -- it was a bit rainy and the rumor around town was the MSEP could very possibly be cancelled if it's raining .. however it's a 5 minute beforehand decision. So off we went! And kept our fingers crossed!!!

THEY HAD THE PARADE!!! YEAH!!!! What a beautiful site -- my children and family enjoyed it TREMENDOUSLY!!! That had to be one of the most magical parts of the trip!!! After the parade of course the tears started to well up in my eyes as I hugged my parents and my hubby too and said -- "Didn't I tell you it was worth seeing?" And of course they were both like YES!!!! Then they were all laughing at me ... "We have an emotional trip coordinator here ..." -- Oh yes that was my title ..."Trip Coordinator" or "Trip Manager".

The fireworks were great too -- and Tink even flew! And they told me at the gate that she "wouldn't" fly even if it was remotely wet and it was even still drizzling and she still FLEW! That almost choked me up too! Am I an emotional basket case or WHAT!

Then after the "kiss goodnight" (which thanks to the fam I had to view "walking backwards" as my dad guided me through the crowds .. because no one wanted to "wait" and see it .. they were just all concerned with GETTING OUT OF THE MASS OF PEOPLE!!! Then the bus situation started --- the lines were BREATHTAKING! For everyting .. monorail, ferry boat, all the resorts, -- we literally waited 1 1/2 hours in line with two tired and cranky children and one huge big double stroller! I had to nurse Gavin standing up in line and then when he fell asleep my dad held him -- and that almost broke his back too ... (mine was already almost broke from standing and nursing ....) -- but anyway -- no frets here -- i was at DISNEY WORLD and I was HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

We were a bit worried about what Gordon was going to do to us on the next day "Sunday" .. but we had planned that day for Downtown Disney anyway so WHO CARES! I'm going to be inside shopping anyway so what difference does it make! Just don those $.50 rain ponchoes and let's go!!!!!

As I laid my head on my pillow that very first night in our hotel on the very first night of our magical trip .... I couldn't believe I had finally arrived and how happy I was!!! All I could think of was how much fun we were all about to have ... how much magic we were all going to experience and how thankful to God that we could celebrate the millenium at DISNEY WORLD!!!

Stay tuned for more ...........



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A big PRINCESS smile to you!

Denise (31), Bob (33), Zachary (4) and Gavin (1) -- We just can't wait to experience WDW with our children AGAIN!

JUNE 1976 -- off site
JULY 1977 -- off site
AUGUST 1989 -- off site
AUGUST 1992 -- Port Orleans
MAY 1993 -- Polynesian
AUGUST 1994 -- Yacht and Beach Club
AUGUST 1995 -- Port Orleans
SEPTEMBER 16-24 2000 -- ALL STAR MOVIES