Win a Picaboo Gift Card

[SunshineGirl]

Contest #6 in our birthday celebration!

We are giving away a $50 Picaboo (http://www.sunshinerewards.com/shopping/Picaboo/) gift card TODAY! In addition, don't forget that if you sign up for a new Picaboo (http://www.sunshinerewards.com/shopping/Picaboo/) membership through Sunshine Rewards by midnight tonight you will get .50 just for checking them out.

To enter: In this thread, post your favorite VACATION memory. Something you would love to have in a picture book to keep for years to come--even if you didn't get a picture of it at the time. Or if it was a picture, why it's your favorite memory.

Memories must be posted in this thread by midnight Eastern tonight! (Jan 31)

[jenny105]

My favorite vacation memory had to be from our Disney trip in 2009. We arrived at DHS early to go directly to Toy Story Mania since that was new at the time. As we were walking to the entrance a CM stopped us and asked if we'd like to help open the park. Of course we said yes! At the time it was like you were on a movie shoot with a director and everything. Then we were driven off to our ride of choice - Tower of Terror or Rock n Roller Coaster. We picked Tower of Terror and the CM that picked us was nice enough to get us Toy Story Mania fast passes as well. We ended up inviting her to ride Tower of Terror with us. The picture is great! Just the 3 of us! We were given a free ride photo and certificates stating we opened the park that day plus tons of pictures of the show that the CM took with my camera. It's sad they've done away with the show at DHS. I haven't had a Disney experience yet that's topped that!

[radetoan]

Great idea for a contest!

My favorite vacation memory was of the time my family camped at Fort Wilderness in Disney World. The entire trip was memorable. It took us 2 days to drive from Pennsylvania hauling our travel trailer. This was our first camping trip this far away from home. I'll never forget how excited the kids were when we drove into the campground. We got a great campsite and the weather was beautiful...until the hurricane. Our vacation was at the end of August in 2008. We spent the entire trip in rain ponchos! I have a ton of photos from that trip of my family in front of the castle...in rain ponchos, in front of the epcot ball...in rain ponchos, in front of the wizard hat...in rain ponchos, and in front of the tree of life...in rain ponchos.

On a positive note, the parks stayed open the entire time and there were no lines for anything. The weather was also much cooler than it would have been that time of year so it was really nice walking around.

Because it was so wet, we let the kids wear their crocs and jump in all the puddles. We rented a golf cart and had a lot of fun riding around the campground. We even swam in the pool in the rain. I think this was one of the best vacations we ever had because we found a way to enjoy the rain.

I would love to have a book to put all these photos in. This was definitely a vacation to remember!

[barbaraapple]

My favorite vacation member would have to be my first trip to Disney World in 2004. I never could have dreamed that it would be so big. When I saw the castle for the first time I screamed like a little girl. I remember standing in the middle of main street just taking in all the sounds, smells and the castle! I have never had a trip that I loved more. And of course now I am hooked! :love:

[Rockchalker]

My favorite vacation memory was at Walt Disney World in October of 2010. We were at Mickey's Not So Scary and my daughter was dressed as Sorcerer Mickey. Our goal was to meet characters and we had such a wonderful time with each of the character paying "respect" to Sorcerer Mickey. But the best memory was visiting with Mickey himself. He spent several minutes with my daughter helping her learn and perform the "moves" from the end of Fantasmic. There was no rush, there was just Mickey and my daughter.

[tarheelpat]

In late November, my 25-year-old son got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend since 8th grade to marry him in front of the Taj Mahal. It was a bright sunny day, both were dressed in traditional Indian clothing and the glistening white marble of the Taj was in the background. My DH and I were there along with eight relatives we were traveling with -- there was not a dry eye in the group. DH put the camera on the setting you would use to shoot sports, so we have absolutely fabulous scene-by-scene pictures.and I need to do a book for them and us.

[MKCP84]

In 2005 we surprised our daughters with a trip to WDW. We told them we were taking them to the dentist to get them out of school. My in-laws came with and the girls couldn't figure out why grandma and grandpa were going to the dentist also. Luckily I have it all caught on the movie camera so we can relive that great memory. We did finally tell them where we were going when we were at the airport.

[MdCaterer]

My favorite vacation memory has to be two years ago when we were coming to the end of a great Disney World Vacation and we went to Animal Kingdom to find our favorite cast member friend "Bill" to say goodbye. My son had drawn him a picture of Rafiki because that is his favorite character. We were wearing T-shirts that my son had made for us prior to the trip. I was wearing Tigger and DH was wearing Scar. As we were heading over to Africa to see Bill we saw that Tigger, Pooh and Eeyore were in the picture spot and there was no line! My husband had gone ahead of us to get fast passes for Expedition Everest so we were waiting for his return right outside the meet & greet. The Cast member there, Scott, saw my shirt and William's picture of Rafiki and asked who had drawn them. William said that he had drawn them and he was taking Rafiki to "Bill" his favorite cast member. My husband showed up in his Scar t-shirt and Scott told William how very impressed he was with his art work. We thanked him and went in to see Tigger, Pooh & Eeyore. When we came out, Scott stopped my son and said, "I bet I can become your favorite cast member today" Then he asked us if we would like to lead the Animal Kingdom parade by riding on the Rafiki Float!!!!!
We agreed and he told us what time to meet him by Kilamonjaro Safari. We enjoyed the park all day, had a great lunch at the Yak & Yeti and then went to meet Scott. We were taken behind the scenes- which was thrilling. They gave us Safari Hats & Vests to wear and we got to meet a bunch of the Stilt walkers and performers from the Festival of the Lion King which is one of our favorite shows. They loaded us onto a jeep with Rafiki on a float behind it. The music swelled, they opened these huge bamboo gate doors and we drove out into the park. The parade lasted maybe 30 minutes but we have never smiled so much or waved as much!! We could not quit smiling it was an "over the top" experience. After the parade, they gave us a photo pass of pictures they had captured of us at different parts along the parade route! Those pictures never cease to make us smile. This one is still the wallpaper on my desktop.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/598707_4143914008786_767029276_n.jpg

[fronisgl]

My favorite vacation was our trip to Hawaii to attend a friend's wedding. We were able to explore the islands and the volcano was erupting within walking distance from the road. That was a sight to see at night.

[leshaface]

My favorite vacation memory was very recent. I had my first child (a boy:love:) in October and a way to treat ourselves was to to go to Walt Disney World during my DH's Christmas vacation (he's a teacher). Yes, we took our then 2 month old son to Disney World! We also took my mom, who has not flown and has sworn off flying since 1996, to help with her first grandbaby. We all had a blast! But the most memorable part of that trip, was being able to take my DS on Dumbo and seeing him look around with his mouth wide open and looking around and smiling(was really the first time he was fully awake during our trip):D DM sat in front of us, in a separate Dumbo vehicle, taking picture of us. It was the best little family moment as of yet and something DH and I will always remember!:heart:

Here's during the ride
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad130/aliciacrow1/DSC01254.jpg

And happy afterwards
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad130/aliciacrow1/DSC01260.jpg

[mindyd2006]

My favorite vacation memory is when my daughter did Bippity Boppity when she was five it was her first time there and they turned her around for the reveal and her mouth dropped open and said I am a princes her eyes were so bright. We got a picture of it and just the look of amazement on her face makes me smle every time I see it.

[SCard]

My favorite vacation memory was our first family trip to WDW. The look on my child's face as we approached the Magic Kingdom was priceless and something I will never forget. :love:

Can't wait to make more memories next fall when we go back to the best vacation spot there is.

[OhMari]

My favorite vacation memory was very recent. I had my first child (a boy:love:) in October and a way to treat ourselves was to to go to Walt Disney World during my DH's Christmas vacation (he's a teacher). Yes, we took our then 2 month old son to Disney World! We also took my mom, who has not flown and has sworn off flying since 1996, to help with her first grandbaby. We all had a blast! But the most memorable part of that trip, was being able to take my DS on Dumbo and seeing him look around with his mouth wide open and looking around and smiling(was really the first time he was fully awake during our trip):D DM sat in front of us, in a separate Dumbo vehicle, taking picture of us. It was the best little family moment as of yet and something DH and I will always remember!:heart:

Here's during the ride
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad130/aliciacrow1/DSC01254.jpg

And happy afterwards
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad130/aliciacrow1/DSC01260.jpg

I think you won.:rotfl: What a great memory.

[PSL1013]

My favorite vacation memory was when we visited Venice on a Mediterranean Cruise in October 2011. Always wanted to visit Venice and so far it's been the highlight of my life. I took this picture of the Rialto Bridge after eating lunch at one of the restaurants over looking the Grand Canal.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll297/PSL1013/IMG00262-20111024-1257_zps66551a61.jpg

[terdsmit78]

My favorite vacation memory was when I was 16 we went to Disney World for the first time, we didn't have a lot of money but my parents saved and saved so that they could take us 4 kids to Disney, The 4 of us smashed in the back of our parents old car, even with the air condition broke and in the 90's all the way down there it was still the most amazing trip ever. I think I road it's a small world a billion times, and I can still remember my first time in the Haunted Mansion and on Space Mountain with my dad. Such a great trip, I have loved going there ever since. :sunshine:

[WDWRocksMySocks]

My favorite memory -- my hubby and I went to WDW in December 2011 and stayed BWV. I had desperately wanted a BW view, but we were booked in a preferred (renting points). When we got to our room, I ran to check out the view and discovered we were given a BW view! The best part was hearing the old time Christmas carols that were playing down on the BW from our balcony and being able to watch some of Illuminations and Wishes. AMAZING!!!

[Hawleys]

My favorite vacation memory is eating at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ with my whole family! My wife and I, my parents, my sister and BIL and all three kids had a wonderful time and yes, I paid part of the bill with a GC from Sunshine Rewards.

[MinnieBelle]

My daughter meeting Mickey Mouse (and the gang) for the first time last week. I know I will always treasure the memories of our first Disney trip as a family.

[wendyburger]

My best vacation memory was a road trip I took with just my two kids down the Pacific Coast. We stopped and hiked in the Redwoods, hung out in San Francisco, drove along highway 101 and 1 most of the way down to San Diego. Did the San Diego zoo, Seaworld and Museum of Modern Photography. Got lost on a surfer beach (yum!) and ended the trip with Disneyland!!!

[mellymel261]

My favorite vacation trip was taking my 4 year old to Disney for the first time, cant wait to take her now 7 and her little sister who is 2 in the fall :sunshine:

[db1205]

Oh this is so hard. Obviously one of my favorite Disney memories was my wedding. There's nothing like being a Disney Bride. I also will always cherish our cruise a few months ago. It was my 1 year olds first Disney experience. He ate it up. He loved all of the characters, but especially his Mickey Mouse. My little guy, that always wants Mommy, wanted Mickey to hold him. If he only realized how hard it had been to have that meeting. It took until the last day of our trip!

[jaydubz]

Without a doubt my favorite vacation memory was my first trip to WDW with my children. DD was 6 DS 4. We piled the entire family, including M-I-L, into the mini-van and headed south for a wonderful week long respite at Fort Wilderness Cabins.

DD had come down with a horrible winter cold (this was in March) and had a fever of over 100 the day before we left. The doctor (a personal friend) assured us that she would be fine with the help of Tylenol and that we shouldn't worry about it and instead enjoy our first time experiencing WDW with the kids.

DD was red with the fever, litterally flushed red, for the entire trip but she was a trooper and slept for the better part of the trip. The trip down was mostly uneventful, except for the early morning trip through Georgia fueled by dozens of black bottom cupcakes and by 8:00 a.m. we rolled into the FW parking lot. Not sure what to do (check is wasn't until 3:00 p.m.) we thought, what can it hurt if we ask if the cabin was ready, and what do you know it was!!! Our first taste of the magic.

There were many more magical moments that week, from the entertainers at Hoop-De-Doo flirting with DS (remember he's 4), to Pooh & Piglet at The Crystal Palace and even to breakfast at the Grand Floridian, but none compare the very first time my kids witnessed the awe that is the Magic Kingdom.

It was our first day, we'd managed a quick nap in the cabin and then caught the ferry from FW to MK. Somehow, MIL managed to get off the boat ahead of us with the camera and was able to capture the pure awe and joy on both kids faces as they got off the boat, saw the monorail above them and the railroad station ahead of them.

I wish I had a scan of the photo (gotta do that some day soon), because words simply cannot describe the looks. My DD (remember the one with the 100+ fever, cheeks flushed red and generally feeling lousy) is simply covered in happiness, a grin literally from ear to ear. My DS who had no idea what to expect, is simply star struck. His jaw is literally on the ground and if he could float away, he would have.

To this day, that picture is on a table in my house where I can look at it every day. Whenever anyone asks me why I keep going back to WDW (sometimes even without the kids), I show them that picture and say "those looks are why WDW is my other home".

Even thinking about it now chokes me up a little bit.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Birthday SR!!!!

[fanofree]

I have many favorite vacation memories...
The stand out is sort of bitter sweet. About five years ago, I took my parents with my daughter to WDW. My mother getting around with a scooter, but was at the time able to get on and off it and actually enjoy the trip. Her favorite ride was Mission Space (the non-spin version.) I have wonderful pictures as it was mid-December and we looked at all the Christmas displays. My mother is no longer able to travel. This ended up being her "last vacation." She still talks about how much fun she had and continues to encourage our trips to the World.

[SunshineGirl]

And our randomly chosen winner is...

db1205!

Please file a trouble ticket to claim your prize.

And thanks to everyone for sharing their stories!!

[db1205]

Oh wow thank you!