A Night of Magic in Cinderella’s Castle Suite
Pinch me. Someone, PLEASE!! I'm still flying high on pixie dust after the weekend I had at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.
Let's start off with the conference itself. I was so looking forward to this year's event. I didn't attend last year since we were almost finished with paying off our debt. While the conference in itself was a great value, I couldn't justify waiting another month to pay off debt in order to attend a conference even if I knew how to save on a Walt Disney World vacation.
The waiting room before entering the Castle Suite – Squeeeeeelll!!!
Attending this year's event proved to be worth it 10 times over! Everything was phenomenal (it is Disney, they can't do mediocre). I could enjoy the learning (find great takeaway blogging posts on Savvy Blogging), networking and magic without any worries over finances. I budgeted to attend this year and was excited that I got in (thanks to Toni registering us since I was in California the day of registration). So knowing that our finances were in order so I could attend without any worries was icing on the cake (royal icing, of course ;).
To be honest, I'm sorta glad I waited too since I won the prize to stay all night in Cinderella's Castle Suite inside Magic Kingdom (I wanted to put all of that in caps but I realize that is annoying but please know that my voice is screaming as I type this. It's screaming obnoxiously so please just humor me for my ecstatic moment!!).
AHHHHHH!!!!!
OK, I couldn't NOT do it! I mean, how do you behave when there is a random drawing and your number is chosen? I don't gamble or enter raffles all much, honestly. If I do buy a ticket to support a cause, it's with the intent that I”ll never win – I consider it a donation and I'm done with it. But, not this one!
Ya wanna know a funny part. I nearly walked into the session WITHOUT getting a ticket. Everyone was shuffling into the room to be seated and I was running in too. I saw someone with a big thing of tickets and walked past, honestly assuming that there would be no point to even get one because I never win. Why bother ya know? Well, I turned around and realized everyone had a ticket so I may as well get one. It's Disney, you never know what kinda magic a ticket could hold :)
Turns out it's a lot! The first raffle prize was up and it was a beautiful Mickey Mouse Dooney & Bourke purse. Not my number. Not even close. The second raffle prize was a Mickey watch. I thought to myself, “I wouldn't mind that since I haven't had a Mickey watch since the first time Dad and I visited Disney World together.” Darnit, my number was STILL not the one. The third prize was announced and the squeels started from all of the attendees, ME included!! I leaned over to Briana and said, “Forget those other prizes, I want that Castle night!” Again, I would never win it, but still that would be a sweet one!
The Fairy Godmother HERSELF was helping with this winner too. SHUT UP. I wanted to hug her. So the numbers were being called off…. “0…4…6…4…1…2…ONE more number ladies.” Oh, that tease (since my last number was the number one). “OK, ladies, the last number is…..1!” To which I was all like, “WHAT? SHUT UP, SHUT UP, NUH UH…Let me read this back to you…. 0464121, are you kidding?!!” That's exactly how it was too, don't believe me, here's the video from The Mommy Insider to prove it!
It's always 11:59 at the Castle!
I jumped up to the stage to claim my pass. I started hopping like a BUNNY! I have no idea why I did that, honestly. I think they piped in pixie dust because I was acting a fool! I was jumping, smiling, HAPPY – I didn't care how crazy I may have appeared either!! Then Maria says “But, Andrea you're family isn't with you.” And I was all like “I have three boys, they wouldn't appreciate this as much as they should!”
This was after the dancing, jumping and hopping. I swear I'm not usually that hopped up normally. Well, not on Friday's at least :)
You can't even buy a night at the Castle. It can only be won. Later we found out from our VIP Park Guide, Steve (that came with the castle night) that celebrities and dignitaries have tried to purchase a night's stay and it's impossible. So, this is an exclusive night as a Princess.
I did SO sleep there!! The “C” stands for Cinderella and Charming. We later found out the “D” does not stand for Deckard but for Disney. Yeah, I was shocked!
OH YEAH!!
So, they immediately told me the stay was for that night (on Friday) and that the castle room slept 6 people. Who would I take? Well, it was so obvious who would go with me. I'm just glad some of my dearest, trusted friends were at the event with me! So, Briana, Amanda, Toni, Crystal and Amy all slept over at my “pad” for the night, Cinderella and Prince Charming's castle. No biggie. Just an everyday occurrence for me…NOT EVER!
“Hon, yeah, I'm at the Castle. Uh huh. Walt Disney World wants me to stay since they need a blogger to tweet from the Castle. I'm gonna need you to call me Princess from now on.”
I'll share more this week including pictures and the VIP access we were treated to, along with our Princess night stay. It was all amazing. I'm still smiling from the experience! Oh my word, I stayed at Cinderella's Castle!!!!
LOVED the hopping. :) Next time…take me along!! :)
Amy, thank you SO MUCH for helping to coordinate an event. Even without this night, it was amazing to learn and be with some of the best people around!
OMG!!!!! I would have been the same way!! LOL I loved reading your post, made me laugh!! Disney is so “magical” and anything can happen!!
Stephanie, I’m glad you got a laugh out of it because me and my roomies were cracking up afterwards about all of it! I’m laughing now about it even.
WOW!!!!! so happy for you….CONGRATULATIONS!!
Thanks, Michele! I’m still in awe I got to do it!
Super LIKE!!! This year it was you, last year it was Bridgette, all these people I know winning LOVE IT. Maybe it’s the ladies from the Tide event luck. I shall enter next year LOL. Congrats and can’t wait to read more about it.
Toni, I know!! I just @ her because I was so overwhelmed when she told me. I cannot believe it! Maybe next year *is* your year! :)
OMG I love it!!!! Especially the hopping! lol! Congrats girl, you deserve every second of this!
Thanks, Kelly! I seriously don’t know why I was hopping. I think hearing Bippity Boppity Boop playing made me wanna bip and boop which of course means hopping! LOL
Oh wow! That’s absolutely amazing! I remember feeling like the coolest person in the world when I got to help Cinderella down the stairs at Disney World when I was 5. You are definitely way cooler.
I would love the Dave Ramsey Pack as well. I’m a recent college grad looking to start my adult financial voyage on the right foot!
Kayla – how sweet is your memory!! I didn’t go to Disney until I was 12 or so but the Princesses were always so magical and had me in awe. Especially when we had breakfast at the Royal Table and got pictures with them. Those pics are to come too!
That is so awesome!! I’m so happy for you!! Can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures. Miss seeing you and Susan!
Cyndee
Cyndee – thanks!! We miss you too. You can always come to a moms night out with our group :)
Andrea! How magical for you…it made me smile just to read this post! How cute are you?!!
By the way, I love your new blog design — and tagline!! :)
Thanks, Stacie!! It was so much fun! And thanks for the compliments on the design and tagline. I finally have my vision complete with the look of everything!
That is so awesome!! I’m so happy you got to do that! How special!!! I totally would have freaked out and hopped, too! Hop away, Andrea!
SQUEALLL! So happy for you! That’s exciting! Now I feel like I super-star, too. I can say, “I know someone who has stayed in Cinderella’s Castle!”. Couldn’t have happened to a better group of ladies!
Oh my gosh Andrea, that is so cool!
Thanks so much for inviting me!!! You are the BESTEST!!!!
OH..MY..GOSH, Andrea!!!!! We thought it was hilarious!!! You looked so DARN cute….I loved it!!
Awesome! Lucky girl! You looked so excited running/ hopping to the stage.
Thanks, Karen! I WAS so excited. I don’t normally hop like a bunny unless I’m really excited I guess :)
I was grinning while I was reading this just like I was grinning when you won. I was even grinning when you asked Amanda to come with you (yes, a jealous moment, but GRINNING). I LOVED that they gave this to you guys. SO MUCH FUN! Glad you were able to enjoy it with your girlfriends!
Thanks, Kathy!! Since I didn’t go last year I had no idea they would give a night away like they did last year. I think I was even more amazed that they did that and then me winning on top of it – well total awesomeness!! So glad to have finally met you too!
I am so happy for you! It’s so fun to have someone to share the experience with! We have GOT to talk and compare notes!! Can’t wait to see more pics and relive the night all over again!
I am so happy you got to do this!!! Looks amazing. You lucky Princess! It was great to see you, I wish I had had more time to talk with you.
Thanks, K!! I know, we didn’t have anytime to connect again!! Hopefully we can hang again somewhere this year. I’m going to SheStreams now too so maybe there??!!
So amazing! I’m grinning here just reading about your experience. I think I would have hopped, too. Actually I probably would have passed out… my number was 046412-7, and when they called the “1” I realized I had been holding my breath! :)
So glad it was awesome. Disney really blew me away with all the magic and surprises.
Cheers!
Ohhhhhh, that was soo much fun! I am so thankful you invited me to go!!!!!
I will never, ever, EVER forget what a great time we had… IN THE CASTLE and on our tours.
I’m still feeling the pixie-dust!!
Thank you for drawing the magic ticket and for sharing.
PS: I just ordered a new mattress… the same ones they use at Walt Disney World!! Bringing THAT magic home at least, baby!!