Trip Report The GRAND Birthday! *COMPLETED*

“Hey, Ma ~ you’re about to celebrate a BIG birthday. What are you going to do next?”
“I’m going to Disney World!”

If it were only as simple as it sounds in the commercial. But we all know that real life rarely aligns with what is portrayed on TV....or for that matter (dare I say?) social media. My mother was hitting a milestone on 2/1/2019 and I wanted to take her to her favorite vacation destination to celebrate. (The fact that it also happens to be mine was a bonus!) However when I presented the idea to her back in the fall, she was reluctant to accept my offer.

Ten years ago our extended family went to WDW to celebrate her last big birthday. During that trip, paramedics were called because my infant nephew was experiencing breathing difficulties; my sister-in-law got either food poisoning or a bad case of stomach flu which necessitated a doctor coming to her resort room (and an extended stay); and my dear Woody came down with similar symptoms which resulted in an ambulance ride to the ER on the night we arrived home.

Needless to say that was the end of our extended family vacations.

I had to clarify with Mom that I wasn’t planning a big gathering. Still, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go. My father was recovering from some recent health challenges and she was uncertain she’d feel comfortable leaving him. She asked for some time to think it over.

Meanwhile I jumped on some cheap airfare and booked the hotel, figuring it was worth the risk. Just before Thanksgiving, with my dad’s blessing, Mom decided she would like to go.

“Where will we stay?” she asked.
“It’s a big event. Where do you think we should stay?” I answered.
Mom paused and without waiting for her reply I continued: “It’s going to be a grand celebration, so we must stay at the Grand Floridian!”
Mom choked up and said, “I never thought I’d ever be able to stay there.”

Well now she has! And we had a wonderful time at the resort and in the parks. There was even a surprise or two.

As for this:
That's the interesting thing -- something new, fun, or outright bizarre happens on all your trips, and that's what keeps us coming back for more. It's kinda like a written version (with photos), of a Tuvalu WDW reality show. :p Looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Stay tuned for the bizarre!

I wish this trip could have been mother/daughter/granddaughter. Sadly, Em was unable to join us.

Who: Tuvalu and Mom
When: January 29 - February 2, 2019
Where: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (the “and Spa” gets me every time!)

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Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
So excited to be tuning in to this one!!!
Looking forward to reading this!
Yippee! A new @Tuvalu TR 🍾🎉🎈
Thanks, guys!

Hoooray!! and Happy Birthday, Mom!! :geek:
Yay another trip report! And with your mom! Happy Birthday to her! 🙂
Happy Birthday to your mom!!!!
I’ll pass on your birthday wishes! 🎂
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Happy Birthday Mom - she looks so young!
She does indeed! Which I am sure prompted this:
Looking forward to hearing, you guys could be sisters!!!
Dave, you’re not the first to comment on this. We heard the “are you sisters?” remark at least three times during our trip. Which of course made Mom feel great.....me, not so much.....😜
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Yay! I'm excited to hear about this trip! Hopefully, nothing too bizarre happened!
Oh, we were in bizarro world at least twice.....😧

E and I are ready and super excited to hear all about it! Happy Birthday to your mom!
View attachment 349934
Adorbs, adorbs, ADORBS!! So much cuteness. 🥰

Yay! Another @Tuvalu TR! I needed this happiness today! Can’t wait to read all the details :joyfull:
Looking forward to sharing with you!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Yay, I'm in, as if it was even a question!!
I would be ☹️if you weren’t!

Oh goody!! Can't wait for a new Tuvalu TR -- and with Mom!!! :joyfull:
(P.S.: I love the blue sweatshirts you both had on, in the first photo.)
We bought them during the trip. It was so stinkin’ cold! And it was fun to be the matching daughter this time, rather than the matching mom. 😊

Wish I had known - we're in Kissimmee for the month - I could have collected a card from you!
Oh boo! You won’t still be there in April by chance?

Happy birthday Tuvalu’s mama! Looking forward to it.
Happy to see you, @Sillysidewalker!
 

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