Two Alices Fall Down The Rabbit Hole and Land On Their Feet in WondORLANDO. Updated 11/6 with more food - Page 12 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Okay, so staying at the Contemp has never been a dream of mine and I never could figure out why, except to say that it's not "my style". But looking at your pictures of your room I've figured it out!! I feel like staying at the Contemp is like living in an Ikea showroom! I love bits and pieces of Ikea furniture but a whole room of it to me feels very sterile....and that's what the Contem feels to me, sterile. *shrugs*
But, I am having an awesome time reading your TR and can't wait for more
Okay, so staying at the Contemp has never been a dream of mine and I never could figure out why, except to say that it's not "my style". But looking at your pictures of your room I've figured it out!! I feel like staying at the Contemp is like living in an Ikea showroom! I love bits and pieces of Ikea furniture but a whole room of it to me feels very sterile....and that's what the Contem feels to me, sterile. *shrugs*
But, I am having an awesome time reading your TR and can't wait for more
The truth is, in many ways, the moderates have more of a "magic factor" than The Contemporary for just the reasons you give, but there was a different reason why this was a dream.
I grew up being told I was not the type of person who could afford to stay in a Disney Deluxe...or even on property, unless it was in Wilderness Lodge in a small tent with four people and a dog. (Definitely an adventure to treasure, but not what I'd call magical!)
I'm sure many of us can relate to not growing up with many luxuries, though I always had what I needed and more, so I'm not complaining.
As an adult, for some reason, I still believed that I was not the "on property" class, and always stayed in a resort off-property; getting closer to Disney each time. I remember a tacky,tacky Day's Inn, a so-so Ramada. Maybe there was one or two palm trees in front of a busy road. The decor was uninspiring and the guests the staff were not at all in a magical mood. I'd hate to leave the parks to go back there!
When I stayed at The Lake Formerly Known as Buena Vista, also a childhood dream, I realized I could easily have afforded a moderate or a value without being too far from what I paid at Lake Buena Vista.
That was the last time I stayed off-property, and I really don't think I'll ever do that again if I'm visiting Disney Parks.
I have to admit that the discounts, the pin code, and the surprise upgrade all worked together to create this dream-come-true, and without them, a stay at a deluxe would stretch my budget, especially on the 11th floor of Contemporary.
Anyway, this trip was about sitting in The Contempo Cafe for breakfast and seeing the Monorail whoosh into the building JUST FOR ME because it is MY resort. Then I watch it leave, knowing another and another will be along until I'm ready to ride. That was something I always wanted to do!
Looking back, another of my childhood wishes was to visit the parks ALL BY MYSELF so I could immerse myself in my own thoughts, speak when I want, hear what I want, go and eat what I want, and float with my whim instead of being pushed and pulled here and there. (I think any kid who visits a crowded theme park knows what it is like to be pushed and pulled, and any grown-up who does not want to lose their child, especially a dreamy wanderer, knows why pushing and pulling is probably the only option.) Anyway, the first time I snuck away and went into the parks alone was in my thirties, and I felt like a kid who'd run away to join the circus! I felt like I knew how the person who originally coined the phrase "walking on air" felt. I remember watching Spectromagic from the spot I chose all by myself without any debate or negotiation. I remember eating a coconut haystack that was WAY overpriced, worth every penny, and bought without pleading or a lecture. I got teary to On This Magic Night as the floats sailed by because I knew that many of my childhood dreams had always been just a few years and choices away.
I talk to alot of people about Disney visits, and, when you get down to it, a whole lot of those visits are about granting a wish to an adult inner child or passing a wish along to one's own child. Most (but not all) of the people who don't understand repeat visits to Disney did not visit as a child, it seems. That would be an interesting research study!
Anyway, this resort choice was the perfect one for this trip and, while I don't think I'll stay in the Contemporary again, I have my eye on The Polynesian, my other childhood dream, and my hopes on another pin code!
I think there are these kid-places in our hearts that hold unmet childhood dreams and wishes that never happened. We may have outgrown them, we may recognize that the wish is stupid or childish, but the longing stays until we grant those little wishes. It is kind-of like having to listen to your inner child whine, sigh, or look disappointed endlessly. Sometimes it is just as easy to grant the wish than to say "NO!"
I'm curious, does anyone else have a Disney kid-wish they can share?
Well written Sandy. I love it! You definitely need to stay at the Poly. I stayed there last year and is one of my favorite resorts. From the theming, smells and background music, it has it all.
Dreams are a good thing as you have something you're wishing for and look forward to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick
Don't forget my crash cymbal!
Sorry, that I forgot the "crash cymbal". It won't happen again.
Can't wait to hear more on this great TR!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 05-29-2010 at 11:02 AM..
Sandy, your TR is really awesome. I will have to remember that Tip of the Day. I will pass it along to my friend that is getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for WDW.
As for the picture, I have no clue where it was taken, but judging from the straw it looks like it might have been taken at a stable somewhere. Maybe the Fort Wilderness Stables?
As for the picture, I have no clue where it was taken, but judging from the straw it looks like it might have been taken at a stable somewhere. Maybe the Fort Wilderness Stables?
HA HA HA! Nope! You know who we need? JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet he would know!
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Sandy, today's update was touching! I remember wanting to go to DL or WDW for most of my childhood, but it just was never feasible for my parents. When I finally got to take myself as a senior in college, I felt like I was 6. Though my two buddies were feeling less of the magic than I was, they loved me enough to indulge my childlike enthusiasm and joy. In 1997 we may have stayed in the very same crummy Days Inn you mention, but with park hours extended for the 25th Anniversary of WDW, we didn't have to spend much time here. Thank goodness as I'm pretty certain this place knew no magic.
I'm truly enjoying reading your TR and can't wait for more!
Sandy, today's update was touching! I remember wanting to go to DL or WDW for most of my childhood, but it just was never feasible for my parents. When I finally got to take myself as a senior in college, I felt like I was 6.
!
You make a really good point there! I know of so many families who simply can't swing a trip to Disney for their children at all because of finances or having to do something else with their vacation time.
You just added a different category of Disney Kid Wishes! The ones who wanted to go, but could not go as a child. I'll bet when Disney offered the discounts to deal with the economy, a whole bunch of families were able to visit that would not have been able to visit before!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Though my two buddies were feeling less of the magic than I was, they loved me enough to indulge my childlike enthusiasm and joy.
!
Sometimes the magic for a trip to Disney is like love...you either feel it or you don't.
I was giving a talk on accessible Disney once, and a woman walked by an said sourly "The best tip for going to Disney World is don't go!" I was a little surprised that she would walk by and say that out loud, but I can appreciate that this may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
In 1997 we may have stayed in the very same crummy Days Inn you mention, but with park hours extended for the 25th Anniversary of WDW, we didn't have to spend much time here. Thank goodness as I'm pretty certain this place knew no magic.
I'm truly enjoying reading your TR and can't wait for more!
LOL! I was still out of the parks in '97, but I was, at least, getting away from that Days Inn and moving closer!
Great update! I think you really summed it up for alot of us here! I never got to go as a child, went for the first time back in the 80's when I was first married. Didn't get to go back again until '08, when we finally got to take one of our boys, then again in '10 with both our boys. Before we even left in Feb, DH & I were planning a return visit for next year, just the 2 of us. Everytime we enter MK on the first night of our vacation, DH looks at me & says " I would so loved to have seen you here as a 6 yr. old.....according to the look on your face as an adult, I know you would have so loved to have gone as a child". Not everyone "gets' the true magic of Disney. I have had so many people ask "why do you want to go back....again??? Why not go somewhere different." They truly don't understand. Luckily, DH sees my love for it & goes along with all my planning and talking about it.
Everytime we enter MK on the first night of our vacation, DH looks at me & says " I would so loved to have seen you here as a 6 yr. old.....according to the look on your face as an adult, I know you would have so loved to have gone as a child". Not everyone "gets' the true magic of Disney.
OH! That is so sweet! It does take a certain personality type. When I look around and see some of the antics, I think so much of the Disney experience can wake-up that inner child. I especially crack up when I see grown-ups (especially men) wearing silly hats. You know they'd never be caught dead in something like that anywhere else, but in Disney you can get away with it!
My parents took me in 72 or 73 for one day. I loved it! Sad thing was that I lost my camera the next day so I have no photos. For years I dreamed of returning. My dad sad he was not going back...we had an amusement park right here in Houston! Finally when my DD was almost 5 I got to return. My dear friend and her 3 yr DD spent 4 days at a tropical themed hotel in Kissimmee. We had a blast. I was a single mom with a very limited income and not much vacation time so no matter how much I wanted to go back it just wasn't going to happen. A six years later, I met and married DH and added 3 more children. I finally got to return when those 4 kids were on their own and we only had #5 who was 4 yo. Since then I am always trying to figure out how to get back. DH enjoys trips to the world but he says mostly because they make me so happy! I read this trip reports almost daily and fantasize about being able to go a couple times a year. Like so many others, I would love to make a solo trip.
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I remember wanting to go to DL or WDW for most of my childhood, but it just was never feasible for my parents. When I finally got to take myself as a senior in college, I felt like I was 6. Though my two buddies were feeling less of the magic than I was, they loved me enough to indulge my childlike enthusiasm and joy. In 1997 we may have stayed in the very same crummy Days Inn you mention, but with park hours extended for the 25th Anniversary of WDW, we didn't have to spend much time here. Thank goodness as I'm pretty certain this place knew no magic. 
Susan
Mary - not enough trips!
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