Sean and Eric's Engagement Report About This Page:

[Sean]

The Sean and Eric 100 Years of Magic Engagement Report

The Cast:
Me (Sean), 31,a true Disneyphile
Eric, 28, my boyfriend (now fiancé [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) and a Disneyphile in the making (wink, wink) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Location: Wilderness Lodge June 9 – 16, 2002

The occasion: Our engagement [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] (But do we really NEED a reason?) [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Background:

OK, folks. This starts out a little sad [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] (OK, very sad), but it lightens up in a hurry! Bear with me!

May of 2001 my father slipped into a coma. It all happened so fast. I got the call at school. The next day I was on a plane home to Florida, and the day after that he was gone. Lots of stress. Eric, my boyfriend, flew down the day after that to support me and attend the funeral with me. We had a vacation planned for June that was paid for, so seeing how I needed some major cheering up, I asked Eric if he wanted to call Disney and ask if we could use the package earlier.

My father was the one who had introduced me to Disney. We lived in Orlando at the time. I remember the early days of WDW when one did not pay an admission to the Magic Kingdom, but purchased tickets for each attraction. We would go, walk around, get popcorn and dad would hand me a book of tickets and I would go on whatever I wanted. This was when the tickets were labeled A – (weak or slow rides) to E (popular rides) and hence “E-ride nights.” My favorite ride was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, which, I am sorry to say, no longer exists. My first character meeting was on the shore of the Polynesian Hotel beach. My Grandparents were staying there and I went to visit them. Baloo the Bear was walking along the beach. I remember how amazed and happy I was! And we have the picture of Baloo holding me up in the air to prove it! Disney represents all that is good, happy and simple to me.

He said yes. We called Disney and asked if we could move the vacation up, they said yes, and the rest is history. But important history. That was Eric’s second time to Disney World. The first time was with a school group when he was much younger and he did not remember much. This “vacation” solidified our relationship. We learned a lot about each other, and I felt totally accepted. Eric was a person who did not mind me loving Disney! It was almost as wonderful and freeing as when I came out! Anyway, this was my connection with dad (I even mentioned that in the eulogy I gave for my father at the funeral), and now it is a connection with Eric. While we were there we “hotel hopped” to see what each hotel was like. We were determined to come back the next year at the same time that we had planned for this year. That is when we started to plan, plan, plan….

Little did I know how much we were going to need this vacation! The December following dad’s death, my brother-in-law (whom I had gone to college with and basically lived with for four years) was murdered. Last month my mother’s house burned down. Good grief!!! I NEED SOMETHING HAPPY!!! Well, that is what this WDW vacation was going to be!

Now, this may seem a little schitzo, but now that you have the background, I can get a little silly!!!

****Preparation****

I started to read [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img] – a lot!
Guidebooks that I purchased ( I read all the others in the bookstore during repeated visits to their café for coffee a cookie and a WDW guidebook!):

Watson, Jennifer, Dave Marx, and AllisonC. Marx. Passporter Walt Disney World, 2002. Ann Arbor: Passporter Travel Press, 2002. (the best of the best)

Birnbaum, Stephen. Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World, 2002. Hearst Business Publiching, 2001.

Aero, Rita. Rita Aero’s Walt Disney World, 2001. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2001.

For a sociological perspective read:
Fjellman, Stephan M. Vinyl Leaves . Boulder: Westview Press, 1992. (dated, but fabulous!)
Biographies:
Mosley, Leonard. Disney’s World, A Biography. Chelsea: Scarborough House, 1990.
Thomas, Bob. Walt Disney, An American Original. New York: Hyperion, 1994

And just a plain fun history and tour:
Zibart, Eve. Inside Disney. Foster City: IDG Books, 2000. (way cool little book)
…….to name a few.

Periodicals:
Mouse Tips; Unofficial Newsletter of Walt Disney World.
Disney Magazine.

I spent a lot of time on the internet: Deb's site of course! As well as the Passporter site. (I was on the Passporter site so much near the end that Eric joked calling it the “pass-porn-er” site…) I also went to MouseSavers.com , and every other site I could find. While I was on the Mousesavers site I sent an email to the travel agent who works with them, Sue Pisaturo, and ended up booking though her. I highly recommend her!

We got a 5 night, 6 day Discovery Magic Package at the Wilderness Lodge for just under $2000! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] That sounded great to me! We also booked an extra day at the hotel on either end of the package. (The first and the last day seem like such a waste of package.) I bought the airline tickets back in February on DeltaExpress for $178.00 each, which I thought was pretty good. I also knew that I wanted to propose to Eric while I was there. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] How and when were questions, but I wanted to keep it very simple; unconventional enough to be ours, but conventional enough that it was clear what we were doing. And then pray that he didn’t propose first! (which he didn’t…whew!)

I went psycho making PS reservations and planning our time there…even serendipity was scheduled, sweetheart! I decided that I wanted to propose on our first day there – so that I wouldn’t have to keep it in any longer! I decided that we would do it at Cinderella’s Royal Table. (Details to follow.) I planned like mad. I had colored construction paper, each labeled “Day 1”, “Day 2”, etc. and then colored strips of paper to place on each sheet and move around as we talked about what we wanted to do. Is that nuts?

The final week of school came, I graded my finals, put the grades in the computer and then we were off! We were going to Disney!!!!!

Coming next: Day One: Sunday, June 9, 2002

[tikibird]

Sean,

Sorry to hear that you had such a rough year, but glad you got to escape and see the Mouse.

Sounds like you did a great job planning, and looking forward to hearing more about the trip!

[2Princesses]

Congrats to you & Eric on your engagement!! I remember your earlier posts about the "glass slipper" and was sure you would get a "YES" from Eric with a proposal like that. Can't wait to hear all the details.

[Elliot'sDragon]

WOW! Did you really need the MAgic!

[ 06-20-2002, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: Elliot'sDragon ]

[Elliot'sDragon]

WOW! Did you ever need the Magic!
I am looking forward to the rest of this report.

[LuvMK]

Hi,Sean [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

Glad you are back! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your magical trip!

[AKLRULZ]

Hi Sean - you are a gifted writer and I cannot wait to hear about the WL! We leave in 36 hours - any chance this could be wrapped up by then?!? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Glad ya made it home safe and sound.

[Cinderella_68]

Lovin' the TR so far! Especially looking forward to the proposal!
Thank you for sharing with us!

[iloverags2]

Looking forward to the rest of your TR. Thanks so much for sharing such a special event in your life with us.

[Colo Dizfanatic]

Congrats Sean (and Eric!!) Wonderful and magical trip, it sounds like!!

Can't wait to read more!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Sean]

Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee Disney neighbors! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] I have my mouse ears on and sipping a beverage from my Wilderness Lodge refillable mug – that I just refilled! I am ready to write about Day One! [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

Thank you all for your comments. But,Ummm, Steve, there is not an igloo’s chance in Ouagadougou that this whole report will be done by the time you leave! Maybe after you get back, though… (And have a marvelous time with the Mouse, BTW!)

OK (adjusting ears……sipping my beverage…) here goes with day one.

Sunday, June 9, 2002

The buzzing started at 5:30a.m. I rolled over and slapped the snooze button to shut it up. What is this infernal obsession we humans have with time? Walked to the bathroom and felt that wonderfully warm water run all over my body; each and every pore yelling, “Thank you!” After ablutions, Eric was up and jumped in the shower while I was getting dressed. I went to the CD player and played the “Good Morning” song from “The Bear in the Big Blue House” CD. (We are HUGE Bear in the Big Blue House fans!) Our very dear friends Diana and Ronda would be here at 6:30am to join us for a quick breakfast and then give us a ride to Logan. I started to get the kitchen ready: plates, forks, knives, water and juice glasses, coffee mugs; put water on for tea, made regular and decaf coffee, set out the juice, cream and sugar. (I thought about having champagne and mimosas, but thought better of it.) Set the muffins out on a platter. Ran to the CD player and put in “Disney’s Instrumental Impressions” (It had to be Disney and it also had to be very non-abrasive that early in the morning!) Ready. Just then a knock at the door and the girls had arrived!

We had a nicely paced breakfast, the girls helped with the cleanup and we were on our way. We left the apartment at about 7:15am and arrived at Logan at about 7:55am. The girls dropped us off (hugs and kisses). We looked at curbside check in, but being the cheap New Englanders that we are we looked at each other and decided to save the tip, so we went inside the terminal to check our luggage there. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Ha! I don’t think so! There was a huge line! We walked in the door, saw the line, and turned right around again and went right for the curbside counter, where there was no line at all. OK, I tipped him. Not having to stand in line is worth any amount of money (bad attitude for someone going to the home of the insuperable queues, huh?) We walked directly to the gate, through what was disturbingly inadequate security and waited the few minutes to board out 9am flight. We had a few minutes so Eric went to the Sunglass Hut and purchased one of those strings that attach to your sunglasses and keep them around your neck when you take them off. (I HIGHLY recommend these devices to all of you people! They were the best investment I have ever made –ok, slight hyperbole there, but you get the idea.)

All right, Mouseketeers, I have never been on a DeltaExpress flight before. Good golly if those seats aren’t the SMALLEST seats I have ever seen on a plane! I am a small guy and I was very cramped. Besides that the flight was uneventful. Eric kept turning to me and giggling saying, “We’re going to Disney!” We were both so excited! While on the plane I read the better part of Christopher Rice’s book, A Density of Souls. Can you say morose!? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] We had (shall we say) a bumpy landing. I am convinced that the pilot was fresh out of flight school, but on that note, he did a wonderful job, yes he did!

We headed for the baggage claim, claimed our baggage, and my sisters, Heather and Jenny (twins) were waiting for us to shuttle us off to the happiest place on earth! On the way there we dished and gossiped so that we made sure we were up to date on family affairs. Mom’s house was being gutted and redone at an amazing rate. Mom is living in a hotel until it is done. She is so happy with how it is coming along. My sister Heather and her husband are having a house built, and Heather is VERY excited about it. And then – all of a sudden – we were there! A huge archway greeting us with “WELCOME”! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Yay! We are here! We are really here!

The girls had “places to be” so they just dropped us off. I offered to buy them lunch but to no avail. The offer was made in vain. Oh well.

As we walked into the Wilderness Lodge we felt the cool rush of air (ahhhhh) as the first set of doors slid open, the music got a little louder (rising with our excitement) and then we stepped into that magnificent-take your-beath-away lobby! OOOOOOOOO!!! I did the happy dance and then went to the counter to check in. Because of our strange room arrangements (remember, we had just a room, then a package, then just a room) it was technically three separate reservations. The very nice man at the front desk was able to keep us in the same room for all three reservations, which was wonderful. The room was not ready yet, so we walked back out to Bell Services and left our luggage there while we decided what to do.

Well, we had to eat. We had not eaten since 6:30am and had definite “rumblies in our tumblies”. So we went to Roaring Fork Café for some lunch. (Now let me just say this: for a resort with 728 rooms (not including the Villas) this is the smallest and most inadequate “food court” I have ever seen. On the mornings we were there, it was always too crowded to even think about using if I wanted to be sane the rest of the day. OK, done ranting..) I got a hamburger and Eric got chicken fingers. We walked around a bit checking everything out. Went to the mercantile and decided that we wanted everything. I was like a little kid in a candy store! I hopped around and got excited about things and pointed things out. I must have looked a little silly, but my philosophy is: IT’S DISNEY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! LET YOURSELF BE A KID AGAIN! Especially after the very recent events in my family, I have taken the philosophy of Erma Bombeck, “Seize the moment! Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” I take Erma’s statement to heart – as well as Mame Dennis’, “Live! Live! Live! Life is a feast and most poor suckers are starving to death!”

We bought a handful of postcards. We had printed up address labels before we left the house and were determined to send postcards to all of the real children in our life; sending them a happy hello from Mickey Mouse, or their favorite Disney character. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

After playing around, and on our way out of the mercantile we decided just to stop and ask if our room might be ready. It was!!! Yay! (another happy dance) [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] We got our room key and went up to room #6026 which is on the left side of the resort with a stellar view of the Contemporary. We will definitely request that room (or one on that floor) again! The Bellman brought our luggage up very promptly, he was friendly yet prudent, I tipped him and then did yet another happy dance (one for the room this time). We unpacked, put our toiletries out, and went out and marveled at the view from the balcony. On the 6th floor the balcony is very private – walled in actually, no bars at all. I enjoy that. On this patio, on the top, facing the trees, walls on three sides, I could sit out in the buff and no one would see or care. (Normally if I attempt that someone yells, “Put it back on!” So the privacy was nice.) We shared our balcony with a spider in a rather large web. (Oh, what a tangled web we weave…) So we called lodgekeeping to remove our friendly neighborhood spider. We decided to put our bathing trunks and head down to the pool. We walked around the pool, which was crowded. We decided to have drinks on the beach to convince ourselves that we really were on vacation so we went to the Tout Pass bar, ordered two “lodge juices” which came in collectable cups, and then found a chair in the shade on the beach. Ahhhhh…. vacation….. We had a lovely view of Discovery Island which opened as a nature preserve in 1974 and has “one of the largest walkthrough aviaries.”* (I don’t think it is still open though. Can anyone confirm that?) We leisurely had our drinks and then a dip in the pool. Then we went back to the room to shower and change for dinner. We had 5:00pm PS at Whispering Canyon Café for supper.

We went to Whispering Canyon and had to wait only a minute for our table. While we were waiting Eric was having fun at the Lincoln log table with another kid. When our table was ready they walked us to the very back of the restaurant where we would have been sitting alone. Yuk! I don’t want to sit alone! I want to sit with everyone else! So we were reseated. While we were at dinner there was a “ketchup” incident and a horse race. Very cute. I forget what we ate, which is saying something from me. I NEVER forget a good meal. So there we are.

After supper we took the bus to DD. We meandered the shops ending up at our final destination, The World of Disney. The World of Disney is mind boggling; Intense; Confusing; Exhilarating; Exhausting! We both loved the villains part of the store! The holographic paintings are very cool! We both loved Ursula and her “garden” under the glass. Very clever! I got a fun picture of Eric giving Ursula a kiss on the cheek. (Poor unfortunate soul!) As we were exiting the store we HAD to have our picture with the princesses! A nice lady took our picture together. So there we were flanked by the princesses! By the time we left we were VERY done for the day.

We went back to the WL. Walked into the room and collapsed. Our spider friend was still out on the balcony hollding court. So we again called lodgekeeping. 30 minutes went by. Nothing. So I called yet again. Then someone was there in about 10 minutes. Then we slipped into silent and blissful slumber. Tomorrow was going to be a big day!

Spending:
Lunch at Roaring Fork: $15.44
Drinks from Trout Pass $17.00
Dinner at Whispering Canyon $50.21
2 Refillable mugs $22.25
World of Disney $ 61.39
bottle of water $3.50
Spending total for day one: 154.35

*Smith, Dave, Disney A to Z. (New York: Hyperion, 1998), page 142

[tif80]

Great Trip Report so far! Tell us more, I want to know what happened to the spider [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Sounds like a great trip so far.

[DreaminDisney]

Sean- Excellent Trip Report and can't wait for more! You've got me hooked [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Elliot'sDragon]

Excellent writng! Seize the moment quote had me ROTF!
Discovery Island is no longer.

[iloverags2]

IT’S DISNEY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! LET YOURSELF BE A KID AGAIN!

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hello! Isn't this like the most true statement you've ever made? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I have taken the philosophy of Erma Bombeck, “Seize the moment! Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.”

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I own, read, re-read, and re-read again every Erma book. Must say this has always been one of my favorite quotes.

Enjoying your report! Can't wait for the next installment.

Oh, by the way, forgot to say this in my last post...CONGRATULATIONS! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]