Trip Report The Happiest Birthday on Earth!

Our last trip was February 2023 - an amazing first trip as a family of three!

It was SUCH a great trip and we had so many amazing memories made together.

We decided our next trip would be right before Nora's 3rd birthday, December of 2024. We even booked right away as soon as we could! Art of Animation family suite from December 1st - December 7th of 2024.

Okay so... now what? We have to wait THAT LONG to go again?

Fast forward to late September of this year. Work was hard. Parenting was hard. Ian looks at me and says, "wouldn't it be cool to go to Disney just us for your birthday?" I mean... YEAH, DUH. But was it possible?! My birthday is November 7th!

We crunch some numbers. I am not typically an All-Star Resorts type of girly, but at just over a $100 a night.. this just might work. Now for flights. Somehow roundtrip flights from Boston to MCO are looking achievable.

Okay. Now what about the little 21-month-old who we are not going to haul down to Florida for a two-night trip? Quick call to my mom and she is on board to watch her!

Sorry Nora - you'll be back in 2024!

So, buckle up for a whirlwind 2-night trip for my birthday. It was everything I could've asked for!!

 

[annienevells]

The weather was SO perfect. Warm and sunny but super low humidity.

We were reminiscing on when we took our engagement photos on the Poly beach!

2019!

2023!

I took so many photos this trip as compared to our family trip in Feb of this year. first - I didn't have my adorable child around to take nonstop photos of. second - I've lost nearly 100 pounds since then so I was feeling myself

After walking around a bit, I decided I wanted a pre-dinner treat. It's my birthday trip after all!

The CM at the counter noticed my button and said happy birthday! When she handed me my float, she told me it was "on the mouse"

I was a VERY happy birthday girl!

I enjoyed my treat, and shared with Ian, while walking about and breathing in the smell of the lobby.

Time for our first (rea) monorail ride of the trip! So far today: car, plane, fonorail, uber, bus, boat and monorail!

 

[Daddyoh]

Our last trip was February 2023 - an amazing first trip as a family of three!

View attachment 753933

It was SUCH a great trip and we had so many amazing memories made together.

We decided our next trip would be right before Nora's 3rd birthday, December of 2024. We even booked right away as soon as we could! Art of Animation family suite from December 1st - December 7th of 2024.

Okay so... now what? We have to wait THAT LONG to go again?

Fast forward to late September of this year. Work was hard. Parenting was hard. Ian looks at me and says, "wouldn't it be cool to go to Disney just us for your birthday?" I mean... YEAH, DUH. But was it possible?! My birthday is November 7th!

We crunch some numbers. I am not typically an All-Star Resorts type of girly, but at just over a $100 a night.. this just might work. Now for flights. Somehow roundtrip flights from Boston to MCO are looking achievable.

Okay. Now what about the little 21-month-old who we are not going to haul down to Florida for a two-night trip? Quick call to my mom and she is on board to watch her!

View attachment 753934

Sorry Nora - you'll be back in 2024!

So, buckle up for a whirlwind 2-night trip for my birthday. It was everything I could've asked for!!

If I could, you folks remind me of us and Disney. You sound if your hooked ? if you are have you tried looking into DVC Disney Vacation Club ? It's the "BEST INVESTMENT" we have ever made. We are just members that like to spread the word.

 

[cgersic]

Yay!! Off to a fabulous start and I'm just loving all of the birthday pixie dust! I take a trip every year on my birthday, just so I can wear the button and hear "happy birthday!" all day long! You both look so happy and relaxed and congratulations on the big weight loss!

 

[Minnie1986]

I took a bunch of pictures on the way over to the pool.

I sent a bunch to my SIL because I thought my 7 and 4 year old nephews would actually love it here.

View attachment 754367

I was loving this section until I realized it was the smoking area

View attachment 754368

Just a happy girl - and yes I put my birthday button on my swim cover up

View attachment 754369

The pool area was relatively quiet and the poolside games for kids just getting kicked off.

I read for a while while Ian sunbathed. I finished this book before we left - It's called Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.

View attachment 754370

We took quite a few dips in the pool. it felt SO AMAZING after such a cold morning back home in Maine.

View attachment 754371

Ian headed back to our room around 230 to shower and I read a bit more while we did so. I went and grabbed some chicken tenders for us to share because our dinner reservation at GF Cafe wasn't until 545

View attachment 754372

Note another cupcake? Some more birthday pixie dust!

After I got showered up, we headed out to grab a bus to MK.

View attachment 754373

View attachment 754374
View attachment 754375

We didn't wait long before our chariot was arrving!

View attachment 754376

Getting to spend your birthday in the "World" is such a treat, and the CMs really do make you feel special. I remember getting a free wine flight at BOG, more cupcakes than I knew what to do with, and my godson (who was 8 at the time) flagged down a flute band at AK, and they played "happy birthday."

 

[erstwo]

Loving the joy of this report! You look stunning- always have!- love your hair and your dress!

 

[annienevells]

Whoops. Why did I start this report right before Thanksgiving?!

Things were a little crazy - plus, one month until Nora turns TWO

Hope everyone had a great start to the holiday season.

Now.. on with my report!

 

[annienevells]

November 6th continued...

Last I left off we had just boarded the monorail headed to the GF.

We had a specific reason for wanting to spend a little time at the GF..

My first time seeing the gingerbread house! The smell was incredibly walking in.

Took some photos from above before heading downstairs to get a closer look.

I've said this in my TRs before - I always take pictures of US when we travel/adventure. I want proof that I was there experiencing it!!

This was so fun to see (and smell!). I was very grateful we got the chance to stop by.

 

[annienevells]

We still had some time before dinner, so we set out to enjoy the sunset.

It was very quiet and serene.

We chatted a bit about our goals for our big day (my birthday!) while we waited. It was nice to just relax for a bit.

We checked in as soon as we could and were seated very quickly.

I caught Ian a little off guard

That's better!

We both got steaks. Mine was cooked perfectly but Ian's was a big overdone. He still thought it was tasty though!

It was EXTRA nice to not dine with a toddler She actually does REALLY well at restaurants, but I am still a mom, and my focus is always her in that setting. It was nice to focus only on my dinner and dinner date!

Our server brought me some meringues as a parting birthday gift!

We were finished with supper and it was only 630.

Where shall we head to next?!

 

[annienevells]

We were heading somewhere we NEVER go

Disney Springs it was.

But for a very specific reason.

It was pretty packed, but we have certainly seen it much worse.

The purpose of our trip did not include World of Disney but we did take a look inside for something to bring home for Nora.

Total. Madhouse. Not worth the effort lol

We continued on boldly to our desired destination.

Goofy's Candy Co.!

One of our FAVORITE things to do is a make-your-own treat.

It was very quiet in there, so we were in and out in maybe 5 minutes total!

We saved our treats for a bedtime snack and headed on the long haul back to the AS Sports bus stop.

I took this photo because Nora recently started saying Stitch all the time because of a book he is in.

Our ride back was pretty uneventful. Long walk, long wait, but we made it back to our room in one piece.

Now for our treats!

Ian's looked AMAZING

Mine was...... something

Oh well. They were delicious and a perfect way to end the day!

We went to bed relatively early. My big birthday celebration at MK would come early!

 

[Tuvalu]

We were heading somewhere we NEVER go

Total. Madness. Not worth the effort lol

Count me in that club

 

[annienevells]

Count me in that club

 

[annienevells]

Tuesday, November 7th

Happy birthday to me!

This was my first time waking up on my birthday at WDW. It wasn't too hard waking up early with so much excitement building up. I showered and got ready before Ian so I would be ready to go for a TRON boarding group.

We actually were ready to go by 645 so we headed out to the bus!

.... and a pretty long line

Luckily one of the large buses showed up and almost all of us made it on!

We were seated and on our way waiting for 7 AM to hit. Both of us were logged in and ready to have fast fingers

And.. no luck

Nobody on our bus seemed to get lucky either. Ian looked at me and said, "just do it" and I knew what he meant. It was time to purchase an ILL for TRON. It felt brutal to swallow this cost, but it was my BIRTHDAY, we hadn't had the chance to ride it yet and there was no guarantee for the 1PM drop.

We got an ILL for 8:15 and got ourselves excited for it.

We had also purchased Genie+ earlier that morning and had Space Mountain 9:15!

We made it to MK around 7:15 for a 7:30 early entry!

We were soooooo happy to see the Christmas tree and decorations. I felt like a little kid!

Ian had to participate:

Twins, right?!

I couldn't stop taking pictures. We were waiting in line for a photo in front of the tree, so I had time to snap lots of photos.

We were in line behind a really nice couple. The woman was ALSO celebrating her birthday. She even gave me a $5 Starbucks gift card as a happy birthday. So nice!

 

[annienevells]

It took quite a bit to get our photo in front of the tree and then I ended up hating most of the pictures they took! I requested a traditional castle photo before we moved on.

Much better!

We were nearing the end of Early Entry. With our TRON ILL and Space LL, we decided to head to Tomorrowland.

Let's start with Buzz!

Ian crushes me EVERY TIME. Look at my concentration.. all for nothing

We headed straight to one of our all time favorites after Buzz

I was REALLY feeling the birthday vibes in this moment and almost teared up!

 

[annienevells]

Where to next?

We still had a little time until TRON, so Ian requested we do something nearby.

Not this, but Ian did get the ball rolling for the day.... literally

Our ACTUAL next destination - Tomorrowland Speedway!

We walked right on

I had been able to move our LL for Space Mtn up an hour so we headed there next!

It was only 830 and we were getting so much done already!

It was time for our second Mickey pretzel of the trip for our quick breakfast.

After filling our bellies, it was finally time for TRON!

 

[Wicked Sisters]

Whoops. Why did I start this report right before Thanksgiving?!

Things were a little crazy - plus, one month until Nora turns TWO

View attachment 756253

View attachment 756254

Hope everyone had a great start to the holiday season.

Now.. on with my report!

What a beautiful family photo and you dog is adorable.

 

[mpaulam]

Happy belated birthday! You're so lucky to be able to spend it there. I turn 60 in January and we just decided to rent a condo in Florida for the month. Bad news is we're 5 hours from Disney so I'll have to "suffer" and just spend the day on the beach instead of spending it with Mickey.

 

[Doc Disney]

Once through security we did the thing we simply cannot avoid doing - we walked all the way to our gate to make sure it still existed

That airport Progressive commercial was literally me. I do this too!

Before heading over to the boat, Ian asked me to sit down with him and just take it all in. We just quietly sat and held hands and appreciated this special moment. We were back in our happy place, not chasing around a toddler or worried about work, and we were just feeling the MAGIC. Later, at the airport on the way home, when discussing our favorite parts of the trip - we both mentioned this moment

When everyone asks me what my favorite part of Disney is I often tell them this. I can distinctly remember so many times I just sat down and took it all in and those are some of my favorite memories.

Happy Belated Birthday ! Can't wait to read more!! You look great

 

[MickeyCB]

I think this is an amazing photo, catching all of the important stuff!!

 

[sheriffwoody]

Just caught up! We flew out the day you flew in, and I also wore my birthday button on our trip (mine is the 9th). I just pretended like it was during our trip . I was there for my actual birthday a couple of years ago and it was so nice...i never enjoy my birthday, but that was a special one. So glad you got to experience that!

Sweet Nora, happy almost birthday to her! She's growing up so fast!

 

[MinnieM123]

Just discovered your TR. Happy belated birthday! Really enjoyed your photos, and it looks like the entire family had a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing.