The Ducks are Back...A Birthday, An Anniversary and a Grand Gathering - FINAL THOUGHTS, Finally **Updated on 6/4** About This Page:

[dsteiny23]

Originally Posted by MaryEL8775

OMG major points for the wife. That is great. I am so glad that you all liked the fun at Coral Reef. Someday I might get there.

Originally Posted by chezp

What a great day at Epcot - and I love the diver's message!

Originally Posted by Wendyismyname

Very cool!!! Great update!! I'm glad the Coral Reef went how you planned!!

Originally Posted by rieandmatt

I'm planning to surprise my DH for our anniversary at Coral Reef too! I just hope I can pull it off! Glad it went as planned.

Originally Posted by KMB733

Major points for you Dawn! The menus and the diver, what a great surprise for your DH! And the rest of your day at Epcot sounded wonderful, and love the pictures!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Glad you had a great day at Epcot and everything worked out at Coral Reef!! Great pictures!!

I've got to tell you all...with the Coral Reef and how it turned out...I could NOT have been happier. Craig had no idea and the boys thought it was too cool. Actually, Tyler told Zach that when he was ready to propose, Tyler would come to Epcot and dive in the tank and hold up a sign asking Zach's girlfriend to marry Zach. Of course at 14, we are not rushing things. But, if anyone is going to make it happen...it would be our Tyler.

Originally Posted by scrapbookmomma3

Great update. I am showing my three kiddos your pictures and they are getting very excited for our upcoming trip. More please!

You've got less than 2 months to go....AWESOME!!! I did that and showed my boys pics from this site to get them pumped up too. Not that it takes much to get kids pumped up about Disney, huh??

Originally Posted by yjgirl

I too can't wiat to hear more- this is my first time reading the trip reports- I just recently learned of this site. I have managed to talk my family into dressing alike when we go to Disney in Sept- all 9 of us. (Well my DS5 has similar attire). Thanks for sharing.

Welcome to the Boards!! This place is awesome. I remember when I first joined up there was just sooo much to read and questions to ask. Let me tell you, if you've got a question...there will be someone here to answer it. Getting 9 to dress up will be fun!! We just found out that 2 other families that we are good friends with are also going to be there and going to the Halloween party on Halloween, so we are trying to figure costumes for 12.

[dsteiny23]

Okay...here's a quick one with the pics I used for the menu from the Coral Reef.

Our first trip to WDW May 1995 (can't really see the Minnie ears)...



Two other trips after that...can't remember when, but apparently the 90s were not good for my hair...





And November 21, 1998...10 years prior to the Coral Reef, the diver and a big happy family...

[disneydreamer33]

Well it's about time for an update Dawn!!! Just kidding. Love all of the pics.
The Coral Reef thing got me all teared up. How romantic and sweet. You're a wonderful wife.
Can't wait for more.

[disneydreamer33]

Oh, you were posting while I was.
The pics of the menu where awesome. How cute you guys are.

[mousestruck]

Great update, Dawn! And those pics are fantastic... love the old ones. It's so much fun to look back, isn't it??? (And by the way... I think I had the same 90's hair. ) I arranged the Coral Reef diver and personalized menu for my daughter's birthday last trip, and it was so incredible. Such a special moment the whole family will never forget. I'm so glad your clan was able to experience that magic, too! Actually, we vacationed the same week as you, so maybe it was even the same night. Come back with more soon!

[KMB733]

What great pictures you choose for the menu.

[CastleWishes]

What a great day!!
I gotta say you and your husband look the same as the day you were married. Your wedding pictures is so pretty...natural and classy.
You're giving me ideas for next year's 10 year anniversary.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by dsteiny23

Then the time had come…the BIG surprise that I had been waiting to bestow upon my DH. So, we headed over to the coral reef. I had to think of something to get Craig away from the desk, so when we got there I told him to take the boys and go sit, I was going to ask for a table by the tank, but in case we didn’t get it, I didn’t want the boys to hear me ask. He fell for it, whew! But, the girl behind the desk heard me say that and when I walked up she knew who I was before I said anything. She said, whenever someone sends another someone away from the desk, there’s something you don’t want them to know. She had the personalized menus all ready and within 5 minutes we were seated at the end of the tank, in a booth. Perfect for the boys to watch the fish.

So very, very cool - especially the Diver. I agree, MAJOR bonus points for the wife!!

And isn't hte tank at Coral Reef t3h aw3som3z ...? (We got blind lucky; I hadn't even requested tankside that I recall, but we got one of the tables right up by the tank, on the far right side.)

[mcc0313]

Love the pics Dawn. What a great time in Epcot...sorry that Jason has such a long "not to do again" list but I am sure that it won't last long . What a wonderful surprise at the Coral Reef, love the whole diver thing. The pictures that you used for the menu are great (and don't worry about your hair, I don't think the 90's were good for anyone's hair).

Can't wait to read more...

[Pax]

Originally Posted by dsteiny23

We just found out that 2 other families that we are good friends with are also going to be there and going to the Halloween party on Halloween, so we are trying to figure costumes for 12.

Snow White, Prince Charming, the Queen, the Seven Dwarfs, ... hmm, that's ten ... I suppose you could add the Mirror (if you can figure a creative-but-comfortable way to do that), and get eleven ... hmmmmmm ...

[scdisneyfan]

yay! An update just like i was hoping to see! First, the coral reef was an excellent turn out. I was so excited to see how it turned out! I had chill bumps reading it just knowing the anticipation you felt!! I LOVED it! The menus are so great and the champagne with the strawberry! Love the personalized pics! I will have to say that i love the different hairstyles you were sporting over time*LOL* That's why we arent going to show my 90's "mall hair" as my mom called it with so much hairspray on it i'm sure it would have gone up in flames if a spark came near*LOL*
I love the TT pic with his fingers in his ears that was great! I love that last PP pic of you all together....such a great picture!
cant wait for more! and there's so much more wooo hoooo...

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures!!

[Kristen C.]

Luv the update! Kudos 2 u for pulling off the surprize! I love how u were able to include those pics in the menu!

[bfth]

Just catchin' up and loving your report and all your photos.

LOVED the diver! We're going back for anniversary #13 this year, maybe I should try to pull something off.

I also have food allergies (the serious ones), so I know how great it can be to dine at Disney (since I won't dine anywhere else). What did you think of the counter service when it came to allergies (I've only really done table service because of my concerns).

[nconover]

Great photos at Coral Reef! I just put this restaurant on my list of do's for our upcoming trip. I got a little tear during your reveal. Can't wait for more.

P.S. I know about the car insurance in NJ. When I tell people how much it is that doesn't live here, they wonder how in the world we can afford it.