LONG - Originally was a Trip Report
Sorry for the long post, this was from a TR 14 months ago.
RU
Time Machine: Travel back to 1991
We got married in September 1991 and traveled to WDW for our honeymoon. I am a big Disney fan, been to DL many times over the 35 years of my life. But never got to visit WDW in my life (start playing the violins now.) Well, I was going to fix that.
We spent a fairy tale week at WDW. We were there for the 10/1/01 20th celebration with Eisner and a whole lot of other people.
Time Machine: Travel forward to March 2001
The 10th anniversary was coming up in September. Wow, 10 years already. That was amazing. I began planning. Bought the books, researched the web sites, and ordered the videos. However reality stepped in. The economy went sluggish. My industry (hi-tech) was not doing well. The financial pinch was on and about May the plans to travel were scrapped. Talk about a drag. We were very disappointed.
Time Machine: September 11, 2001
Not much needs to be said here. The world changed in an instant. I guess scrapping our September plans was a blessing in disguise.
Time Machine: November 2001
E-mail from Disney. Cool, what do they want to sell me now. Hmmm, very interesting. Stay at any Moderate for $89 per night. Good from December to Mid February. Well, that was certainly enticing. After mulling it over for 4 weeks, I made the call. Could I really pull this off? Better yet, could I pull it off without the wife knowing.
Frequent Flyer Miles: Plenty – Called the airlines, yep my flight was available, first class all the way. Book ‘em dano.
Baby Sitter – Hey mother-in-law, how would you like to come to California for a week and spend time with your Grand Children? Of course I had to tell her why and she jumped at the chance. Who doesn’t love being involved with a surprise of this magnitude.
Work – Well boss, know how you are always on me because I have way too much vacation time on the books, well I want to use some of them. Thanks!
CRO – I want to take advantage of this deal, tell me what you got available. Caribbean sounds nice, what about a water view? For only $5 more per night, deal. Here is a check for $XXXX open me an account.
David/Michelle, you survived 10 years of marriage. Where are you going to go?
WE ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!
December 25, 2001
Ariel (my daughter) please take this basket to Mom. Merry Christmas dear. Watch with anticipation is MIL (who knew what was coming), FIL (ditto), daughter (did not know), son (neither did he), and me dying with anticipation. Try keeping a WDW 10th anniversary 2nd honeymoon a secret for 2 weeks. I was dying. I had to hide the WDW books from her. Even cleared out the web cache a few times.
She takes the whicker basket that has 11 wrapped presents in it.
1. Gee thanks dear, some Mexican Cheese Sauce. (What the world did he give me that for look.)
2. Um, kippers from the North Sea. Ahh thanks I think. (well no Christmas special present for him now.)
3. Chinese Tea
4. German Chocolate Cake mix.
I light bulb went on over her head. This was starting to make sense.
5. Italian Garlic Paste
6. American Cheese
7. Japanese Oysters
8. Meditarranian Olives
By this time there is no more hiding what this was leading to. Tears started streaming down her face.
9. French onion dip
10. English Muffins
11. Canadian Bacon
Ariel, take this to mom. As she opens it she finds a calendar from 1991 (thank you eBay.) Amazing thing, the 1991 calendar is the same as the 2002 calendar. How is that for coincidence. She flips through the calendar and finds an envelope tucked into September. She assumes, incorrectly, it is about a trip to WDW in September for our 11th anniversary.
She opens it and starts to read. There is a print out from the Caribbean Resort. Stuff on the 100 celebration. She then sees a print out from Northwest Airlines. She flips to the next page and it says the ticket info is wrong. The next page shows the corrections. FIRST CLASS seating. The she does a double take. JANUARY 21?
Yes dear, we are heading to WDW in less then 4 weeks. Merry Christmas.
Yes it was a very Merry Christmas. When a man can make a woman cry, laugh, smile, and dance all at the same time, well buddy, you are doing something right.
RU