The Reveal

We had planned this trip long before we knew we were pregnant but there was no way we were going to cancel. Instead, we decided that since the timing was right, we would find a way to do a gender reveal.

I asked around for some ideas and then reached out to our friend Kim, who also books our trips...Shameless plug: Please check out her site. It doesn't cost you a dime to book with her and she's AMAZING!

 Wish Upon a Star with Us

Anyways, Kim asked around and did a search online with me helping to brainstorm ideas. The one we both really liked involved getting Minnie or Mickey ears, having a Cast Member wrap them up, and then take them to Magician Mickey to have him open the package to surprise us. We decided that we would do this.

The ultrasound was done on the Tuesday before we left and the plan was to wait until Friday to do the reveal. This was so hard. I had to hide the envelope so nobody would peek and of course, there had to be some shenanigans involving the losing of the envelope or, with my old age, forgetting where I had placed it.

This was all fun and games until we arrived at the Magic Kingdom where we began to get nervous. As soon as we walked through the turnstiles, we headed towards the Emporium where we found a nice young lady who was also Cast Member to assist in wrapping up our doll and finalizing our purchase. The only problem was, after she headed off with our envelope, she disappeared!

After about a 15 minute panic, which felt more like an hour, we finally saw her walking towards us and with her, our package stapled shut. She handed it to us and told us that we were all set. I told her that we still needed to pay but she said that it had been taken care of by our Fairy Godmother. We were shocked but we weren't going to argue...Have you seen the prices at Disney?  WHOA!....but I digress.

As we made our way across the street, we finalized our plan and then got in line. We asked a young lady behind us if she would record the interaction and she agreed. We also spoke with the cast members along the way to see if they could let Mickey know what we were planning. Each one excitedly helped in putting our plan in motion.

When it was our turn, we had our pictures taken with Mickey and then, a Cast Member told Mickey that we needed his help. He was ecstatic to help and took our bag over to his dressing table to open. Once he had it open, he, the Cast Member, and even some people still standing in line, screeched with excitement to see what it was. At this point, our backs were turned and we couldn't see anything.

This is the moment when our favorite picture from the trip was taken.

Magical Mickey telling everyone to keep it a secret.

After Mickey walked back over to us, we were told to turn around and Magician Mickey presented us with with a baby blue Mickey doll. I had to fight back some tears...Yes, I am an emotional wreck. 

We were excited to find out what we were having and everyone clapped and cheered for us. We took more pictures and then, this magical Disney moment was over.

We will never forget how we learned that we were having our fourth boy on that day. All of the Disney Cast members, including Mickey, did a terrific job in helping us find out what we were having. We even saw later, that not only did our Fairy Godmother in the Emporium gift us the baby blue Mickey, but she gifted us several other baby Mickey toys to go along with it. She really did show us some Disney Magic on that day.

Thanks for reading.

Welcome Home

It was an absolutely perfect day. The air was warm and the sun was shining. I was surrounded by some amazing holiday decorations in the most magical place on earth. My camera was out and I was hurriedly taking photos of everything around me because I felt as if I was about to wake from a dream and I didn’t want to miss anything. I took pictures of the building facades and signs. Decorations and the street. I even took pictures of the vendors and some of the people who, unbeknownst to them, were about to become part of the magic.

As I stood at the intersection of Main Street USA and Town Square, snapping photo after photo, an elderly couple, probably in their eighties, caught my eyes. They were still some distance from me but they were walking in my direction in a most peculiar manner. Hand in hand, this couple was walking sideways towards me. Almost backwards. I chuckled to myself thinking that even at my age, it would be difficult to maneuver in such a manner.

As they drew closer to me, I began to sense that I was standing right where they wanted to be. I moved aside for them and they stopped right where I had been standing except they were no longer looking sideways. They were now standing backwards facing Town Square and the train station, locked arm in arm. The elderly gentleman bent slightly over towards his wife, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and asked her if she was ready. With a slight nod of her head, he began counting down. Three. Two. And then one.

At that instant, they spun around and looked down Main Street, towards the castle. It took me a moment to register what I had just witnessed and as I saw the tears begin to stream down their faces, I too had tears swell up in my eyes.

I don’t know this couple’s story. Why they choose to wait to see the castle together in such a sweet way but what I do know, is that it was magical. What I witnessed on that beautiful day, epitomizes what Disney magic is all about. It’s why I love being there and why I don’t mind the funny looks I get from people when they learn that I’m going back…again.

Walt Disney World is magical and for those of us who consider ourselves to be Disney Fanatics, its home. We feel home from the moment we step off that Magical Express onto our resort and encounter our first Cast Member and we feel home during our walk up the slow incline of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom where we see and smell the sights and sounds from yesteryear.

It's these reminders and so many more that sing out to me with the voice of a Siren...Welcome Home.