There must be some mistake!  Disney World invited a group of blogging moms to a Weekend Mixer last weekend~ and they forgot to invite me (maybe it's because they knew I was stuck at home with the little ones while Ashley and Brian were at the church all weekend for a youth retreat).  In any case, I'm getting in on the fun now~ because, let's face it, when it comes to Disney~ I'M THERE!

One of the lucky Mom Bloggers who got to go to Disney World for the weekend was Jennifer from Snapshot.  She is going  to be hosting a weekend meme/carnival about all things Disney!  So, if you're a crazy Disney freak like me, hop on over to her blog for all the details and join in. 

This week's topic has to do with "experiencing Disney magic" and I think I'm going to put a little twist on mine.  Lots of folks talk about seeing Disney through the eyes of their children or, in the case of those lucky moms, they are talking about their weekend away (and I'm, oh, so envious).

But, my first taste of Disney Magic came in 1987........
I was a senior in high school and my parents told us we were going to take a trip to Disney World in January of 1988.  I was 17 at the time.  Friends loaned us the Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World and I experienced Disney magic for the first time~ right in my own home!  Those of you who really know me, know that I'm a crazy, planning freak!  I went crazy.  But, I'll save the rest for next week's Destination Disney post~ topic: Disney Planning.  (To me, 1/2 the fun is in the planning!)

I thought it would  be fun to raid my mom's photo albums and share a picture of my brothers and me on our first trip to Walt Disney World.  Let me just say that it was the 80's~ the time of big hair and big glasses~ so please take that into consideration before making any wisecrack comments, ok?!  (I told Ashley it was in style and she said "well, it's UGLY!"  )

We loved that trip so much, that we went back again two years later.  I drove my own car and took my friend Ann along~ we had a blast!  We experienced Disney magic as two teen-aged girls and we had SO MUCH FUN!

Fast forward several years........
Not long after Christmas in 1998, my parents gifted us with the money to take Ashley on a trip to Disney World!  What a blessing.  Off I went to the store for my new copy of Birnbaum's Guide (which is updated each year) and the plans were made to go the end of Febraury into March.  It was fun to see Disney magic through Ashley's eyes, for sure.  Forgive these pictures (as I took pictures of scrapbook pages!) but here she is on our first day at the Animal Kingdom:

I said I'd never take a kid to Disney World in a stroller, but we went back in 2005 (my parents went along for this trip).  Gracie was almost 5, but she has never been much of a walker, so to Disney we went, stroller and all (and it really wasn't too bad):

This was the first time we did a character meal (lunch with Pooh & friends at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom).  It was so much fun that we won't do Disney again without going to a character dinner (in fact, we have at least 2 of them planned for our next trip).

We have reservations made for January 2009!  Yes, we'll take the stroller for Ian, but I'm thinking one of those leashes (discussed in a previous post) might be more appropriate.  Friends from church are going along, and they'll have a 6-month old baby girl at the time.  We're getting rather anxious!  Both of them will be first-time Disney guests~ and I'm so anxious to see the magic through their eyes!

But, I must admit........much like the parents in that commercial who act all sad as they watch their daughter heading off to college, I'm anxious to go back to Disney some day without kids!

Share Your Thoughts

Apr. 25, 2008 - Thanks for joining in

Posted by Anonymous

I can't wait to read your planning post. I too love to plan trips!

Jennifer, Snapshot

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I think you are my long-lost planning sister. :) Before our trip last year, I spent countless hours planning. I read the Unofficial Guide to Disney World multiple times, and it is 800 pages long! :) I agree. Half the fun is the planning!

I hope you enjoy your trip! Both times we visited with a two-year-old, we had a fabulous time. We did allow them some nap time, and that really helped. I also agree about the character meals. We will never do a trip without one again!

Lauren from baseballsandbows.blogspot.com

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

Heidi ~ It can't be ugly. That is how I wore my hair when I was a senior in high school and I looked great! Actually, the people that liked it "LOVED" it; those that didn't didn't keep it to themselves.

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Apr. 25, 2008 - We love Disney also..

Posted by proverbsmomof3

I've been there several times. Once in '76 with my family, then my husband and I honeymooned there in 1984. We returned on a second honeymoon in '88, and then took the kids in 2002. The two younger ones hated it. We made the mistake going on some Alien ride as our first ride. They were terrified of every other ride. My daughter cried the whole way through 'It's a Small World'. Needless to say, it wasn't a very good decision. We had figured it was Disney, how scary could it be, but in the eyes of a 4yo and and an 8 yo, it was terrifing. Our oldest was 16 and that was his first time there and he had to endure our endless prodding and coaxing of the little ones. We hope to one day go again, the whole family and have a much better experience. I know you are looking forward to your trip and I know you will have a wonderful time.
BTW-I so remember the 'big' hair days. I could not get mine big, though I tried. To thick and heavy. :)

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Great post!

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

I saw this over at Jennifer's too. But I lost so many of my pictures when the hard drive died, it would take me forever to scan and do all that to write a good one.

It was fun reading about your experiences!

So... your going to be one of THOSE people .. you know.. the one with STROLLERS when you come down.. LOL!!!

Looking forward to seeing you in 2009! It's getting closer and closer.. and we just renewed our tickets till 4/09!!

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by trustingdaily

What a FUN read, Heidi! -- But that HAIR is hilarious!! LOL...We could've passed for twins back in the day. I remember one of the first times getting on the school bus after moving to TX from AR, one of the boys said, "Look at the girl with the hair!!!"...I was mortified to say the least!! Until then, I had mostly attended private school where kids were a bit more tame.

Have a great weekend.
Angela

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaof3

Girlfriend - LOVE the hair...oh, my! - If I pulled out pictures from 9th to 12th - ummm - yep, you guessed it!

How exciting all this DISNEY talk! - Love it! -

Have a great night - from one DISNEY freak to another! - Charity

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Apr. 27, 2008 - Disney Magic

Posted by Jen @ SmallWorldBigHeart

I agree that planning is almost as much fun as the trip itself. I enjoyed reading your experiences! Check out mine here:

http://smallworldbigheart.com/wordpress/?p=30

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Apr. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lisasblessings

Heidi,
wishing we had reservations for any time soon, 2009 will work lovely...Envying you...Lisa

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Apr. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

Love sharing your memories. We really like Disney, too. Magic Kingdom and Epcot are our favorites. We've also done Pooh lunch at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey (on my birthday one year~Mickey brought me a cupcake!), Princess breakfast at the Norweign Castle, breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Polonysian Resort, and breakfast with Minnie and friends when Ashley and Briana were really little at what was Disney Village. I had to laugh about strollers. When we went last year, we went ahead and got Daniella one (she was almost 6). By day 3, Marissa was sitting in it with her (she was almost 10).
Letitia

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Apr. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Ruth

Heidi,
I love the pictures. I can't wait until we go to Disney. We are so excited.
I had big hair, too, in the eighties.
Ruth

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Apr. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaof3

I have my contest up - a day early --- check it out! - Charity

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