[wdwjeff]

Well, I'm back from 10 days in Orlando, and I'm ready to go back tomorrow. What a fantastic trip!!! Since everyone else has covered the parks so well in their reports, I'm going to concentrate on the surprise aspect, and on hotel reviews. So, here goes:
The surprise worked to perfection. We told the girls that we were going to wake them up early for a special breakfast. We woke them up at 4!! Rachael, our 10 yr. old, looked at the clock, and said, "How far away is this breakfast? Can't I sleep until 5?"
We were bursting. They went like zombies into the car. Now, the Atlantic City Airport is very small, and kind of resembles a strip mall until you get close enough. Alli, our 7yr. old, who never stops talking, hasn't said 2 words-she's basically walking in her sleep. Rachael wants to know why we're so excited about breakfast in a mall! Then, she realizes she's in an airport, and we go into the terminal. They're so out of it, that they don't even see the Orlando signs. Rachael says she doesn't want to go on an airplane to get breakfast! Alli finally leaves her stupor behind, only to start whining about missing the day on the beach with her grandparents. Everyone around us is now listening to this whole scene going on. Finally, Sue and I look at each other, and say "It's time." I then proceeded to pull out the Park-Hopper Plus tickets with Mickey and Minnie on them, and put one in each of their hands. Rachael, immediately wide awake(Sue and I, of course, hadn't slept all night in anticipation) started screaming, jumping up and down, and thanking us!! Alli, still a little out of it, says she doesn't want to go on an airplane for breakfast. Rachael says, "Alli, we're going to DisneyWorld!" Alli says, "DisneyWorld?!" Then, she started going nuts, too. Everyone around us was laughing their heads off. I couldn't have written a better script. Then, Rachael looks closer at the ticket, and sees that it was purchased on 8/5/01. She says, "You guys kept this secret for a year!? You're amazing. Who knows about it?" We answered her, "Everybody." And then, I told them about DC. Rachael proceeded to steal my DC hat, which is why she's wearing it in the photo from Epcot. The entire time, they just kept saying Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I love my girls!!!!

Hotel reviews:
Hard Rock Hotel:
This is one great place. It's designed to look like the private California mansion of a rock star. It's very luxurious and very casual at the same time. The beds are the most comfortable I've ever slept in, and they have down pillows, too! The grounds are immaculate, the memorabilia fantastic, and the gift shop did not gouge you. A can of soda was $1. A Hard Rock beanie baby was $8. Very reasonable. One day, it rained on our parade, so they set up and showed Shrek on a big screen in the lobby. They had also set up a memorial for John Entwistle. Very touching. The food at the Sunset Grill is great-I recommend the chili. The best things about the Hard Rock are its' pool and Universal Express. The pool is huge. At night, you can't see one end from the other. And the slide would do any water park proud. It's also irregular in shape, with a zero entry beach in one area, and hidden jacuzzis in a couple other places. All in all, a fantastic hotel. And, Universal Express blows fastpass away(sorry, Disney, you still have the magic, but I do love UE). All you do is go to the Express line and show your room key, then get in line. What a great time-saver. This works with all the Universal resorts, and is a reason to stay on-site all unto itself.

Caribbean Beach Resort:
This is one of the most lush places I've ever seen. They really do up the Caribbean theme. Island music at the pool bar and in the food court/gift shop, and vegetation and birds everywhere, so much so that, on the walking bridge across the lake, you have to watch where you step. All the villages are color-coded. I think we had the perfect room, having made the request of Trinidad North or Martinique. We got room 2512 Martinique. It was so close to the food court that it was closer the food court bus stop, called Calypso, than to Martinique's. The pool is on the other side of the food court, and we never heard any noise, as I've heard some people say you can in Trinidad North. The food court is excellent, with many varied choices, and of course, you can't beat those refillable resort mugs. The rooms are surprisingly large for a moderate resort, and the mousekeepers are awesome. They left washcloths shaped like bunnies and elephants to hang out with the girls' beanies, and followed up on every request.

The only bad part was we had to leave. As we left MK yesterday afternoon to head back home, Alli started bawling her eyes out, saying, "I don't want to leave," and sobbing all the way back to CBR. Then we got her one last milkshake at the food court, and explained to her that it's okay to feel that way, it just means you had a great time. And, I guess that's how I feel about now, too.

[PiratesFan]

Bravo on the beautiful surprise execution! I would have loved to have been there to witness the handing over of the "keys to the kingdom". Glad you had such a great time, especially due to the long planning. I'm sure plenty of us were living vicariously through your surprise...sorry mickey, no spoilers on this trip, lol.

[jgriff2388]

Jeff, welcome back.
That is terrific that you pulled the surprise off! Your girls will no doubt remember that moment forever.
I heard that the Hard Rock was a great resort. We plan to stay there for a few days during our next trip (and also to take advantage of UE too).
Is it true that you can hear music under water at the Hard Rock pool?:)

[brumcg]

Jeff,

Welcome back!!! Great to hear that you had a great time and that the surprise seems to have gone better than planned!

Great review of the Hard Rock. I've been thinking about adding a day at one of the Universal resorts on one of our trips...

Bruce

[tinkerbell]

ohhh how fun .. I am so glad the surprise went so well .. and I know how hard it was to keep the secret !!!!!!!! I am glad you liked the CBR .. its still my favorite of all the resorts ..even though my family now loves the AKL the most. I also know that you just made a wonderful memory ..not just for your girls ..but for you and your wife... the problem is ..something like that is hard to top :)

[Cinderellafifi]

Welcome back, Jeff! I didn't realize your trip was 10 days long! How wonderful! Your family is very, very lucky!

Thanks for the review of Hard Rock Hotel. Except for situations like these, I would never think to go to a non-Disney resort. Hard Rock sounds great and it may be a way to motivate my husband a little more when he seems Disnied-out. :)

I don't blame your daughter for crying when she was leaving, I have done that on many occasions, too - as an adult.

Can't wait to see what else you have to tell us. I am so glad your surprise worked so well!

[ilvminnie]

Congratulations on a great vacation & being a great Dad. I know a lot of parents, not just dads, who wouldn't put that much effort & excitement into a vacation. And as far as crying when you left I thought my DH was going to cry a couple of trips...it just has that effect on nuts like us, I guess.

[mickey]

Jeff, welcome home, and I am glad you had a great trip. I tried my best not to spoil it for your kids, and luck for you that you live on the other side of the country, or I would have for sure.

Does any one else notice that these trip reports make you think you should go back a little sooner rather than later?

[ilvminnie]

Mickey, I'm always ready to go back as soon as I leave!!!

[snowmedia]

Awesome story!!! You are making me anxious for our trip next year when we finally take our kids. They don't know anything about it. My girls will be 5yrs and my son will be 7yrs when we go on our trip. I hope we get half the reaction you guys did. Way to go guy, you da man!!!!

[WDWmomma]

Welcome back and what a great job on the surprise. We have only been back for about 10 days and I am already looking into our next trip so I Know what you mean.

Angie

[cinderellakh20]

Sounds great - we love CBR too - can't wait to hear more!!!! :D

[wdwjeff]

Thanks for all the kudos. And, yes, you can hear music underwater at the Hard Rock pool. But now, I have two very important people to introduce to you all-my 2 DD, Rachael will go first, then Alli. Go, girls.:D :D :) :) :love: :love:
InseperableFromGoofy(Rachael):Sorry. I know my Dad was supposed to wear the DC hat, but I stole it. Anyway, all I did the whole trip was say,"Thank you for taking me on this wonderful trip" and ,"HOW DID YOU KEEP THE SECRET!!???"Here's Alli.

P.S. Beverly is DISGUSTING!!!!!!:p
Mickeyismycard(Alli): That means my Park-Hopper pass had Mickey on it. Hi, the surprise really worked. It was fun at DisneyWorld and Universal. The funnest part of Universal was Nickelodeon. And my two most favorite rides at DisneyWorld were Tower of Terror and Rock'N'RollerCoasterl:) I loved the whole surprise - WDW and Universal.

[ilvminnie]

Am I missing something...Who is Beverly, Rachael, & why is she disgusting?

[wdwjeff]

There's an exhibit run by Coca-Cola next to Innoventions. At the end, they have tasting stations with carbonated beverages that they sell in other countries. Beverly is described as a bitter, Italian aperetif to stimulate the appetite. The only thing that made me want to taste it was reading about it in other posts on DC. It is horrific, I can't believe anyone would drink it and think it tastes good. It made Rachael want to hurl, and it took about an hour to get rid of the aftertaste.:devil :dazed